THE Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the national government will be offering credit and insurance assistance to the farmers and fisherfolks that were affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

According to DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, they earmarked some P500 million incredit assistance to farmers and fishers.

The DA said that they hope that it can help them cope with the dry spell caused by the phenomenon.

Meanwhile, some P1.8 billion in insurance claims are to be distributed will also be distributed to the affected farmers and fishers.

De Mesa also said that at least P25,000 in credit assistance will be given to each affected farmer and fisher.

It can carry a maximum of P20,000 insurance claims that may be granted as well.

“Ang gobyerno natin ay naglaan na ng P500 million na credit assistance. This is PHP25,000 per affected farmer and fisher and then 'yung ating insurance claims about P1.8 billion maximum of P20,000 (each) ang pwedeng ipamahagi,” he said.

But De Mesa said the DA is readying the distribution of P5,000 financial assistance to rice farmers and PHP3,000 fuel subsidy to both farmers and fishers provided under the national budget.

“Pinabilis din namin iyong pagbibigay ng PHP5,000 doon sa rice farmers financial assistance plus iyong PHP3,000 na fuel subsidy na nasa general appropriations 

The damage to agriculture was estimated at P357.4 million, hitting mostly farms in the Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula Regions.