Drought casued by El Niño continues to cause havoc in Mindanao and already, 15 municipalities are reportedly affected in Zamboanga del Sur and this would could still worsen if the weather pattern continues until July.
Such a difficult has nudged the National Government to distribute bags of fortified National Food Authority (NFA) rice to some 28,321 families in the affected towns.
Dubbed as the “Rice Assistance Program” (RAP), the distribution will enjoin the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-9), Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)–Zambosur Chapter and the Commission on Audit for monitoring the distribution.
Fourty-eight provinces, including Zambosur, which has been ranked as one of the top ten rice-producing granaries of the country, are currently experiencing between 20 to 59 percent below-normal rainfalls since March.
The El Niño has caused water supply shortages and hurting rice planting in the province, said PNRC board of directors chairperson Victor Asuelo. He added that in Region 9, the province has the most number of families affected.
For the distribution scheme, the PNRC will take charge with the implementation of RAP, shouldering even the administrative costs and the arrangement with NFA for the hauling of the rice to be distributed to the different municipalities.
It was learned that most of the recipients—who are poor farmers and fisherfolks—were also listed beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
The 15 towns are Bayog, Dinas, Dumalinao, Lakewood, Lapuyan, Dumingag, Kumalarang, Midsalip, San Miguel, Sominot, San Pablo, Tabina, Tambulig Tigbao and Vincenzo Sagun.
NFA officials in the province have assured the public that the grains agency has sufficient stocks of rice in its warehouse and its inventory stockpiled evry now and then with the arrival of more rice.
The PNRC added the RAP will be accomplished by June 30 before the assumption of the newly-elected officials.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA
Such a difficult has nudged the National Government to distribute bags of fortified National Food Authority (NFA) rice to some 28,321 families in the affected towns.
Dubbed as the “Rice Assistance Program” (RAP), the distribution will enjoin the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-9), Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)–Zambosur Chapter and the Commission on Audit for monitoring the distribution.
Fourty-eight provinces, including Zambosur, which has been ranked as one of the top ten rice-producing granaries of the country, are currently experiencing between 20 to 59 percent below-normal rainfalls since March.
The El Niño has caused water supply shortages and hurting rice planting in the province, said PNRC board of directors chairperson Victor Asuelo. He added that in Region 9, the province has the most number of families affected.
For the distribution scheme, the PNRC will take charge with the implementation of RAP, shouldering even the administrative costs and the arrangement with NFA for the hauling of the rice to be distributed to the different municipalities.
It was learned that most of the recipients—who are poor farmers and fisherfolks—were also listed beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
The 15 towns are Bayog, Dinas, Dumalinao, Lakewood, Lapuyan, Dumingag, Kumalarang, Midsalip, San Miguel, Sominot, San Pablo, Tabina, Tambulig Tigbao and Vincenzo Sagun.
NFA officials in the province have assured the public that the grains agency has sufficient stocks of rice in its warehouse and its inventory stockpiled evry now and then with the arrival of more rice.
The PNRC added the RAP will be accomplished by June 30 before the assumption of the newly-elected officials.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA
