AgNor town provides livelihood, assistance to address COVID-19 effects
By Nora C. Lanuza
BUTUAN CITY— Even before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the local government unit (LGU) of Nasipit in the province of Agusan del Norte has already assisting its constituents. Nasipit Mayor Enrico Corvera said on Friday during the Laging Handa program hosted by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar that various livelihood assistance programs were provided to farmers, and fisherfolk in the area.
One of which is the Mariculture Park of the town which is already providing employment and livelihood, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its operation was affected because of the imposed travel restrictions that resulted to the shortage of markets that challenges the LGU so much.
According to Corvera, the Mariculture Park is one of the sources of livelihood in the area, that is why he was asking the help of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to establish or even find other market for their harvest, the bangus (milkfish). The Mariculture Park of the municipality has a total of 38 fish cages and each cage has a capacity of up to 24 tons, he said.
Also, coconut farmers were given support through the shared service facility of the government. Farmers are allowed to use the equipment to enhance and improve their farm harvest during the pandemic.
To address food security, the LGU also distributed seedlings to the different barangays for their ‘Gulayan sa Barangay’ program and for the residents to earn a living because their harvest will be sold to the local market.
Meanwhile, since one of the entry ports of Caraga is located in Nasipit town, Mayor Corvera said that measures were also established to protect their residents. With the help of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), all incoming passengers – the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning OFWS (ROFs) were properly managed and given due assistance following health protocols set by the health department. Those individuals arrived in the port and going home outside Caraga region were also assisted especially when the LGU-concerned cannot fetched them on time.
The PPA in coordination with the LGU has provided them temporary shelter as holding facility and as a quarantine facility as well. (PIA Agusan del Norte)
