Agriculture rehab plan in ‘Yolanda’-hit areas to focus on coconut

Published by rudy Date posted on March 20, 2014

AGRICULTURE Secretary Proceso J. Alcala announced on Thursday that rehabilitation of areas of Region 8 gravely hit by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) is “under way.”

Alcala was quoted in a statement as saying the move is marked by the formulation of a “work plan.”

“The work plan will give priority and focus on the clearing operations under a Coconut Rehabilitation Plan,” Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Asis Perez was quoted in a statement on March 20.

Alcala appointed Perez as team leader of the rehabilitation initiatives, “tasked to coordinate all efforts of the Department of Agriculture [DA]-8 family.”

The DA chief said a Bernadette San Juan was designated officer in charge.

The DA statement said the work plan requires clearing of 390,000 trees in 75 days to give way to the planting and intercropping of corn, camote, vegetables and other high-value crops including coffee.

“The actual operation is set to clear 3,900 hectares of farmland, which will be made available for the planting of various crops and even livestock raising,” Perez said.

The DA statement added it will be employing 520 chainsaw operators and will target clearing 5,200 trees every day.

While the statement didn’t say when clearing operations will specifically begin, this is expected to run daily except Sunday and during the Holy Week.

Yolanda hit the provinces of Samar and Leyte in November of last year, uprooted 5 million trees, and left a significant number of people unproductive.

San Juan was quoted in the statement as saying that under the plan, 200,000 coco seedlings will be replanted and 75,000 standing trees will be fertilized.

“We will also undertake land-preparation activities to about 800 hectares of land for intercropping,” she said.

“Once the land is ready, rehabilitation efforts will focus on the planting of corn seeds, camote and coffee.”

Alcala was in Tacloban City early this month to assess the ongoing initiatives of the government with Director General Jose Graziano da Silva of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The two food agency heads visited a rice farm in Basey, Samar, expected to harvest by end-April or early May.

“It was fortunate that we, together with the FAO and other international organizations, were able to provide certified seeds last December, and the farmers were able to catch up for the cropping season,” Alcala was quoted as saying.

The statement of March 20 added: “Government efforts are now focused on providing livelihood to affected farmers.” –Alladin S. Diega, Businessmirror

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.