Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is appealing to relevant government agencies for swift, immediate, and additional assistance for farmers and fisherfolk affected by Typhoons Tino and Uwan, which recently battered the country’s agricultural sector.
In particular, the senator and chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform lamented that the subsequent typhoons hit the country during harvest season, hammering crops, rice fields, and other agricultural commodities.
“Lalo na sa agrikultura malaki ang naging pinsala dahil anihan sa maraming lugar—sa Nueva Ecija, sa Isabela, Pampanga, Tarlac—so ang panawagan natin mabilis na kumilos ang ating Department of Agriculture para doon sa disaster relief,” he told reporters during an ambush interview on Tuesday, November 11.
“Dagdag na suporta para makapag punla muli ang ating mga magsasaka at yung direktang assistance mismo—pati yung damage, yung crop insurance ay mapabilis para makapag tanim muli ang ating mga magsasaka,” he added.
Pangilinan shared that his office has been coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the clearing operations in agricultural lands in areas affected by the typhoons.
On Monday, the senator held a Zoom meeting with Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival to help deliver critical assistance to the province after Typhoon Tino pummeled through the southern Philippine province last week.
With plans to soon visit the province, Pangilinan emphasized the need to plan for rehabilitation efforts as a long-term focus for the province.
Through his office, the senator also facilitated the distribution of additional DSWD food packs to Cebu City’s evacuees.