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DA places partial estimates of crops and fisheries damage from Ruby at P498.27 M
By DANESSA O. RIVERA, GMA News
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) pegged the initial damage estimates on crops and the fisheries sector from the onslaught of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) at P498.27 million.
Based on the latest report of the department's regional offices, damage estimates for palay, corn and high value crops reached P385.52 million, Assistant Secretary Edilberto De Luna told reporters in a briefing Monday.
The estimates included 25,171 metric tons of crops, as in 19,610 MT of palay, 5,125 MT of corn and 436 MT of high value crops, he noted.
"Galing pa lang po ito sa dalawang region – Regions VIII at V pa lang po. Ang Region IV at Mimaropa, ngayon pa lang po expected," De Luna said.
For the fisheries sector, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez said the latest damage estimates reached P112.75 million after the typhoon battered Regions V and VIII.
"These are all initial estimates. We have a team of validators though we are only required to go out after the storm has passed," he said.
No further damage report expected from rice sector
No further damage report expected from rice sector
The DA anticipates more data assessment on Typhoon Ruby's damage coming in the next two days.
However, Secretary Proceso Alcala said officials expected no further damage to rice paddies as the harvest season was almost over before the typhoon struck.
"Ang ating mga palay, halos tapos na po i-harvest. Because of the projected na mahaba-habang tagtuyot, maaga po nagtanim," he said.
"Right after this storm, titignan po natin. Kapag hindi pa na sa flowering stage [yung mga natitirang nakatanim], usually po nakakarecover pa po. Kaya wala po masyado kaming nakikitang damage sa palay," Alcala added.
The minimal damage in palay is also attributed to the early preparation undertaken by the agency ahead of Typhoon Ruby, Undersecretary Emerson Palad said.
"Nagkaroon po kami ng meeting noong December 2. Ganyan pong kaaga ay napag-usapan na po namin ang mga posibleng gawin po ng department with respect to possible interventions and 'yung directives sa proactive response," he said.
"Lahat po ng harvestable crops ay pinaharvest na po natin. Majority po ng crops ay naharvest na po ng mga magsasaka," Palad added.
Before the typhoon, the DA has prepositioned 58,952 bags palay seeds and 48,222 bags of corn seeds in different regions affected, the undersecretary noted.
"'Yung pong mga mangingisda nating kababayan, nabigyan na po namin ng abiso mula BFAR, para hindi na pumalaot," Palad said.
"Pati po ang relocation ng livestock sa mga matataas na lugar para hindi po maapektuhan ang mga livestock natin," he added.
– VS/NB, GMA NewsMore Videos
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