'Pablo' farm damage breaches P11B mark — Agri Dep't

Damage by Typhoon Pablo to the farm sector breached P11-billion in six regions, the Department of Agricuture reported Wednesday noon. According to latest data provided by the department, damage has totaled P11.565 billion as of noon Tuesday, broken down to P10.371 billion for commodities and P1.194 billion for infrastructure. The banana industry was the hardest hit, with damaged crops valued at P7.362 billion. The Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association has said damage to the sector— including infrastructure—is at P11 billion. Damage to corn crops is at P1.24 billion, the data showed, while damage to coconut plantations amounted to P766.822 million and rice production loss was pegged at P407.392 million. Livestock and fisheries, meanwhile, sustained some P415.163 million and P28.714 million, respectively. Despite the damage, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alacala has maintained that the farm output growth target this year of 4.1 percent to 5 percent can still be achieved. On Monday, the DA said rehabilitation efforts in Pablo-stricken areas are underway, with over P1 billion set aside for farm reconstruction. — BM, GMA News