STOCK NG BIGAS SAPAT SA MGA LUGAR NA TATAMAAN NG BAGYO

IPINAHAYAG ng National Food Authority (NFA) kamakailan na mayroon silang sapat na stock ng bigas sa mga lugar na inaakalang tatamaan ng bagyong si Samuel.

Sinabi ni NFA OIC-Administrator Tomas Escarez na nakapagbigay na siya ng instruksiyon sa regional offices sa Visayas, Bicol Region, Southern Luzon at Northern Min­danao para masiguro ang kanilang stocks bilang “paghahanda sa pamamahagi ng bigas at relief operations habang may bagyo at sa paghinto nito.”

“NFA has at least 1.4 million bags of rice strategically stored in its different warehouses in Regions 4-8, Region 10, and CARAGA. These regions are projected to be hit by typhoon Samuel,” lahad ni Escarez sa isang panayam kamakailan.

“Our stocks will be available to LGUs and other agencies for their relief operations during calamities,” dagdag ni Escarez.

Sinabi pa ng NFA na ang kanilang nakatutok na field offices ay aktibo sa kanilang operation centers na bukas ng 24 oras bilang paghahanda sa bagyo.

“NFA has standing memorandum of agreements with relief agencies like Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), as well as LGUs allowing them to withdraw rice on credit from the food agency for their relief operation anytime during calamities and emergencies,” ani Escarez.

Ayon sa huling report ng Department of Agriculture (DA) Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Operations Center (DRRM-OpCen), na ang mga sakahan sa mga projected typhoon-affected areas ay maaring mapinsala kaysa sa mapabuti.

“Tropical Depression Samuel is continuing to threaten and may trigger damages in the agricultural and fishery sector in the Bicol region. The provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate Sorsogon, and Catanduanes experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall,” pahayag ng DA-DRRM-OpCen sa kanilang report na nailathala noong Nobyembre 20 ng hapon.

“Meanwhile in Western Visayas (Region VI), the rains which could be brought by TD Samuel are beneficial for the newly planted and crops at the vegetative stages as well as farmers doing land preparation for the next cropping season,” dagdag pa.

Pero sa report ay may babala rin na ang mga sakahan at mga namumungang halaman “ay posibleng magkaroon ng kaunti hanggang may kalakihang pinsala lalo na kapag ang ulan ay may kasabay na malakas na hangin.”  JASPER EMMANUEL Y. ARCALAS