The province of Bohol has recorded the partial estimated cost of damage to agriculture at P410,329,904.37.

During the consultation on El Niño Intervention under a State of Calamity held at the Panda Tea Garden and Suites, Dao, Tagbilaran City on April 21, 2016 and April 27, 2016, Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas disclosed that damage on rice has pegged at P372,460,926.04; corn 5,282,632.10; High Value Crops 10,870,612.23 and P2,964,950.00 for the aquafarm.

Meanwhile, Dr. Stella Marie D. Lapiz, provincial veterinarian reported the estimated cost of damage to livestock and poultry has reached to P18,750,784 of which the second district has recorded a big damage at P7,319,897 followed by third district pegged at P7,004,549 and the second district at P4,426,438.

Pamugas bared that the amount is expected to rise based on the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) data since five more towns have to submit the estimated cost of damage.

On the other hand, Dr. Lapiz said the dairy industry of the Philippine Carabao Center at Ubay Stock Farm, in barangay Lumangog, Ubay town has not affected by the dry spell but instead the milk production has increased because the farmers have dedicated their times to take care of their carabaos considering that they could not go on farming due to the absence of rain.

The consultations were participated by the Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs), Agricultural Technicians (ATs), High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) coordinators, Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Councils (MAFCs) chairmen, and presidents of the different peoples’ organizations (POs) in Bohol.

In the action planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation, they formulated some interventions to be undertaken by the provincial government and Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) to reduce the impact of El Niño Phenomenon to wit; provide water pumps, pipes and barrels, water scanner and drilling machines; provide molasses for the livestock, and conduct cloud seeding operations.

When the rains come, they asked the government to provide certified and hybrid rice seeds, more fingerlings and more vegetable seeds of 18 varieties, and plant more trees especially the “Bayan (Gakit) Tree.”

They also asked the Office of the Governor to make a follow-up on the request of Gov. Edgar M. Chatto to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) regarding the exemption to use calamity funds this election season while the province is under State of Calamity.

Moreover, they also asked the LGUs in coordination with the DENR for the strict implementation of the ordinances protecting the environment and marine resources, strengthening the barangay committee on environment; allocating the purchase of speed boats to combat illegal fishing; reactivating fish sanctuaries of the different peoples organizations.

The presidents of the different organizations also made a position paper addressed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of  Bohol particularly to Board Member Godofreda Tirol to revoke on what she said in her campaign sorties in the third district that the market value of a carabao now is P5,000; where in fact based at the pricing guidelines of the PCC the minimum market value of a carabao is P30,000.

They asked the lady provincial lawmaker and the members of the August Body to respect their prevailing market value on carabao and other livestock and agricultural products and pass an ordinance strengthening the prevailing price guidelines to alleviate the way of living. (Atoy Cosap)