Eight (8) towns in South Cotabato received calamity assistance from the provincial government in the form of palay seeds, corn seeds and organic fertilizer after their respective agricultural area was hit by natural disasters last year that affected more than 500 farmers.
The recipient-municipalities were Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Polomolok, Surallah, Tampakan, T’boli and Tupi.
Palay seeds were distributed to Banga – 94 sacks, Norala – 263 sacks, Polomolok – 14 sacks, Surallah – 34 sacks and T’boli – 2 sacks, while Tupi received 51 bags of corn seeds and 136 bags of organic fertilizer and Tampakan 8 bags of corn seeds and 136 bags of organic fertilizer.
Lake Sebu meanwhile received 21 bags of palay seeds and 12 bags of corn seeds.
Seven (7) barangays with an area of 94 hectares in Banga were hit by black bug, lodging and flashflood, while 11 barangays comprising 263 hectares were affected by stem borer.
Lake Sebu and T’boli were both hit by flashflood affecting a total area of 33 hectares, while Surallah was both hit by landslide and drought affecting 36 hectares of farm land.
Aside from flashflood, 1 barangay in Lake Sebu was also hit by rodent infestation.
Likewise, Polomolok experienced black bug attack that hit 14 hectares in their area and 4 barangays in Tupi was hit by tornado and rodent infestation.
