DA, DOLE launch P10k cash aid for 23,000 Bicol abaca farmers

The Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is launching an emergency rehabilitation program for abaca farmers in Bicol affected by recent typhoons.

Over 23,000 farmers will participate in a cash-for-work scheme under DOLE's Tupad program to clear debris, trim damaged crops, and replant abaca.

Farmers will receive cash incentives ranging from P3,000 to P10,000 per hectare depending on the extent of damage, along with protective gear and a one-year accident insurance package.

The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) will provide replanting materials for severely damaged farms and their technicians will validate loss reports.

The program aims to restore over 4,500 hectares of abaca farms within three months.

PhilFIDA technicians will also document conditions, map damaged sites, verify losses, and an inspection team will later monitor the survival rates of replanted abaca.