CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – More than 11,000 farmers from Northern Mindanao, who were affected by El Niño, have received rice from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Rosemarie Conde, DSWD Region 10 operations chief, said the farmers were from 10 cities and towns under a state of calamity.
Conde said the DSWD would also distribute rice to 13,292 farmers and their families in Bukidnon from today until April 29.
She said they have tapped non-government organizations to help in the distribution.
Conde said they would also provide rice subsidy to other areas affected by the drought, but are not under a state of calamity.
Teddy Sabuga-a, Cagayan de Oro DSWD officer, said at least 21 barangays in this city were affected by the dry spell, but the city council has yet to declare a state of calamity because the needed documents have not been completed.
The provinces of Cami-guin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental comprise Northern Mindanao.