Marabut, Samar farmers displaced by ‘Yolanda’ receive million aid
BARANGAY VELOSO, Marabut, Samar – The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 8 (DA-RFO-8) based in Tacloban City, together with the local government unit of this town launched the Yolanda Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project (YRRP) livelihood project for farmers displaced by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
DA RFO-8's OIC Regional Executive Director, U-Nichols A. Manalo told the Manila Bulletin that the R9.2 million program is funded by the Yolanda Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (YRRP).
Manalo said that the agricultural assistance package includes modern farm machineries, equipment, tools and inputs like seeds and fertilizers including farm animals for the four farmers’ associations of the town, Kalakatanan Irrigators Association, Inc., Barangay Caluwayan Irrigators Association, Inc., Barangay Osmeña Rice Farmers Association and Barangay Tag-alag Fisherfolks and Farmers Association with a total of 114 beneficiaries.
Marabut Mayor Elizabeth S. Ortillo said that the assistance package will further expedite the recovery of the agriculture sector which was sent reeling by the super typhoon.
Ortillo added that the aid initiative will convince more farmers to adhere to modern and scientific farming and livestock production, which in turn will further boost productivity and farmers’ incomes.
Marabut is a 5th class municipality with apopulation of 16,962, based on the 2015 census. The town has an area of 143.6 square kilometers with 24 barangays. (Restituto A. Cayubit)