The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday reported that agricultural losses from Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong) have climbed to P4.19 billion, as the agency continues to roll out interventions to assist affected farmers and fishers.
In Bulletin No. 7, the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center said it has been working with local government units (LGUs) to accelerate recovery efforts.
“The DA, through its regional field offices, is continuously working with concerned LGUs and other DRRM-related offices to address the impact of Uwan and utilize available resources for assistance to affected farmers and fisherfolk,” the agency said.
A price freeze remains in effect in areas under a state of calamity, while monitoring of commodity prices, road networks, and market movement continues in coordination with LGUs and Local Price Coordinating Councils.
“The monitoring of prices and road networks is still ongoing for any changes in prices and movement of agricultural commodities, in coordination with LGUs and Local Price Coordinating Councils,” the DA-DRRM added.
Besides these, the RFOs in Cagayan Valley and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) have begun distributing agricultural inputs, including rice hybrid seeds and white corn seeds.
To date, available interventions include P414.51 million worth of agricultural inputs for rice, corn, and high-value crops; P1.24 million worth of animal feeds and supplements for livestock and poultry; and P771,620 worth of bangus, tilapia, and carp fingerlings.
Zero-interest loans of up to P25,000 per farmer, likewise, are accessible under the Survival and Recovery Loan (SURE), which is payable in three years; insurance payouts through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC); and the issuance of 25,660 bags of rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA), among others.
As of Monday, 85,689 farmers and fishers have been affected across sectors, including high-value crops, rice, fiber crops, corn, fisheries, cassava, livestock, and poultry.
The P4.19-billion damage estimate reflects 164,274 metric tons of lost production across 99,572 hectares of farmland.
High-value crops were the hardest hit, suffering 80,446 MT in losses worth P2.66 billion.
The rice sector recorded 50,191 MT in losses valued at P732.48 million, while fiber crops posted P428.37 million in damage.
Losses in corn reached P179.05 million; fisheries, P83.66 million, affecting 578 fishers; cassava, P10.82 million; and livestock and poultry, P10.15 million across 3,345 heads of various animals.
Additional losses include P86.02 million in damaged farm structures, P1.87 million in irrigation facilities, and P195,000 in damaged machinery and equipment.
PNA PHOTO