Typhoon-affected farmers get $23.6 M aid from gov't

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government said today that it released P1.05 billion ($23.6 million) to assist farmers in areas hit by super typhoon Haiyan also known as Yolanda.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the amount will be used by the Department of Agriculture to clear and desilt areas struck by the typhoon and to provide farm tools, seeds, fertilizer and farm machinery fuel subsidies to farmers.

Six months after typhoon Haiyan hit the country, Abad said several communities in central and southern Philippines are still recovering from the devastation.

"Farmers were especially hard-hit, as the super typhoon laid waste to vast swaths of agricultural land," he said in a statement.

Government data showed that typhoon Haiyan caused damages to the agriculture sector amounting to P31.1 billion ($699.08 million).

To date, the Department of Budget and Management said it has released a total of P5.21 billion ($117.11 million) for the agriculture component of the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda program.