Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has urged all local chief executives along the Davao-Agusan River watershed to revive the Davao-Agusan River Basin Development Council and look for long-term solutions to the perennial problem of flooding in the Davao and Caraga Regions.
Piñol visited Thursday the Compostela Valley province and Agusan del Sur to assess the damage to crops caused by Typhoon “Auring” and heavy rains.
Davao Region reported an initial damage of P64 million and Caraga region P125 million from the recent typhoon and heavy rains that inundated farming communities.
The agriculture chief underscored the need to reconvene the dormant council and he would present the council’s proposal to President Rodrigo Duterte.
“(I will) submit the proposal so I can present it during our Cabinet meeting for possible accessing of the climate change fund of the United Nations (UN),” Piñol said.