FREE SEEDS. Rice farmers in Eastern Samar province badly hit by recent flooding receive replacement seeds to recover losses from the Department of Agriculture (DA) in this Jan. 27, 2023 photo. Latest report said damage and losses to agriculture in the region due to severe flooding in the first two weeks of January are now pegged at PHP611.1 million. (Photo courtesy of DA Eastern Visayas) TACLOBAN CITY - Rice farmers in Eastern Samar province badly hit by massive flooding have started to receive replacement seeds to recover losses, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Wednesday. At least 600 bags of seeds were distributed to rice farmers in the towns of Jipapad, Arteche and Taft in Eastern Samar on Jan. 26 and 27. Up for distribution early in February are 1,900 bags of seeds from the DA-Bicol regional office intended for rice farmers of Dolores, Oras and Can-avid towns. Larry Sultan, DA Eastern Visayas regional technical director for operations, said they have prioritized the far