The Department of Agriculture regional office in Bicol (Photo courtesy of DA-5) LEGAZPI CITY - The Department of Agriculture in Bicol (DA-5) on Monday said it has started giving various interventions to farmers in the provincial and municipal local government units (LGUs) of Sorsogon who are affected by the continuing unrest of Mt. Bulusan. Emily Bordado, DA-5 spokesperson, said an initial PHP490,625 worth of assistance has been distributed to a total of 186 affected farmers. "The High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) initially distributed assistance consisting of vegetable seeds and two units of power sprayers each to the LGUs of the municipalities at the foot of Mt. Bulusan, namely: Juban, Bulusan, Irosin, and one unit in Casiguran, to help in spraying off volcanic ashes from agricultural crops," Bordado said in an interview. She said DA-5 also delivered to the Sorsogon Dairy Farm 10 plastic drums, 50 laminated sacks, 50 sets of garden tools, five water hoses, and tw
OCD-Bicol office in Legazpi City, Albay province (PNA file photo) LEGAZPI CITY - Several local government units (LGUs) in Bicol suspended classes on Monday as Tropical Storm Agaton dumped heavy rains across the region, the Office of Civil Defense-Bicol (OCD-5) reported. Among the areas covered by suspension were Legazpi City, Ligao City, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Libon and Sto. Domingo, all in Albay province. In Masbate province, the towns of Mobo and Cataingan also canceled classes. The same directive was issued in the towns of Barcelona, Bulusan, Gubat, Castilla, Casiguran, Donsol, Magallanes, Sta. Magdalena and Pilar, all in Sorsogon province. Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD-5 spokesperson, said in an interview the red alert status that was declared by the OCD on Friday is being maintained to ensure the highest level of coordination and monitoring. "The southern portion of Masbate including Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer and Cawayan are under Tropica