DA and DoLE Launch Emergency Rehabilitation for Bicol’s Abaca Farmers Affected by Typhoons

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has joined forces with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to implement an emergency rehabilitation initiative aimed at aiding Bicol’s abaca sector, which sustains approximately 23,000 farmers affected by recent typhoons. Under this program, farmers will engage in clearing debris, pruning damaged crops, and replanting abaca fibers.

This rehabilitation effort operates through DoLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, which offers temporary employment and monetary compensation. The initiative targets the restoration of impaired farms, with full replanting support from the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) for those suffering severe damage.

Farmers involved in the program will receive financial incentives scaled according to the extent of damage: ₱3,000 per hectare for lightly affected areas, ₱5,000 for moderate damage, and ₱10,000 for heavily impacted zones. Additionally, participants will be provided with protective equipment and a one-year personal accident insurance plan courtesy of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.

PhilFIDA technicians are tasked with verifying loss assessments and ensuring the availability of planting materials before the commencement of work. Subsequently, an inspection team will monitor the survival rate of newly replanted abaca crops to gauge recovery progress.

The DA has set a goal to rehabilitate over 4,500 hectares of abaca farmland within the next three months. Bicol remains a vital region for abaca production, accounting for nearly one-third of the nation’s total yield. Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong), which hit Luzon in early November, caused extensive damage to more than 55,000 hectares of abaca farms, destroying an estimated 7,492 metric tons of fiber valued at over ₱38 million.