Ondoy, Pepeng damages force govt to cut farm growth forecast

Two typhoons that submerged Metro Manila, flooded major highways, and destroyed farmlands have forced the government to cut its growth forecast for the farm sector. Instead of expecting an expansion of 1.5 to 2.5 percent, the Department of Agriculture (DA) expects the farm sector to grow only by 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent. Reduced projections for the sector were announced on Wednesday after the government took stock of crop and farmland damage wreaked by storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng. Besides raising the possibility of a 10 percent decline in agriculture output for the whole year, DA Secretary Arthur Yap also disclosed that storm damages may reach P30 billion. Moreover, flooding and landslides brought by the two weather disturbances have ravaged half a million hectares of land planted with rice crops. But at the same time, the government remains hopeful that up to 130,000 hectares can be salvaged, helping the rice sector yield to produce a good harvest this year. Rice inventories remain sufficient, Yap assured, adding that supplies of the staple will last until Christmas and the first few weeks of next year. While Luzon is affected by decreased production, the situation in Visayas and Mindanao – the Philippines’ third and second largest islands – is improving, Yap said. In a related development, Yap also ruled out proposals to import vegetables because the shortage is only temporary. Clogged roads, bridges, and expressways connecting Metro Manila to vegetable-production areas have started to be accessible to vehicle traffic, allowing deliveries to markets, and eventually, to consumers. Non-traditional sources of vegetables such as Cebu, Negros, North Mindanao and Quezon are helping plug the shortage, Yap said. Sariaya in Quezon is currently delivering three metric tons of fresh produce daily to Metro Manila, Yap added. - GMANews.TV