by: Mary Lailani Pitao-Tupaz
NAVAL, Biliran – Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Biliran Provincial Office is set to receive eight units of chain saw this week from their Central Office to assist coconut farmers rebuild their houses.
Adem Atuel, Provincial Manager of PCA-Biliran, informed that the distribution of chain saws to the provincial offices in Region 8 is under PCA’s Coconut Shelter Assistance Program that aims to help hapless coconut farmers reconstruct their houses which were totally damaged by the devastating Typhoon Yolanda.
Typhoon Yolanda hardly hit Eastern Visayas including Biliran province.
The municipalities of Cabucgayan, Biliran, and Naval of the province of Biliran suffered heavy damages from Yolanda.
Atuel said that under the program, PCA will provide the chain saw, fuel and operator to make lumber out of fallen coconut trees to be used by coconut farmers in reconstructing their damaged abode.
The beneficiaries who own fallen coconut trees or have solicited fallen coconut trees from its owners or have bought fallen coconut trees for their own use may apply at their respective PCA offices for immediate assistance once the units arrive in their office.
The PCA Provincial Chief coordinated with the local chief executives of the eight municipalities of the province for the provision of fallen coconut trees for coconut farmers who don’t have coconut trees.
Atuel also coordinated with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices for the list of totally damaged houses particularly those of the coconut farmers.
PCA-Biliran made a conservative estimate of P300 million in damage to coconut trees in the entire province of Biliran as an effect of typhoon Yolanda.
The province of Biliran has an estimated 22,800 hectares of land planted to coconut trees, according to Atuel. # (PIA 8 Biliran)
