DA: P729M worth of crops destroyed by Pedring

More than P729 million worth of agricultural products were destroyed by Typhoon Pedring, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday. At the Senate finance committee hearing on the budget of the DA, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said 25 provinces in eight regions lost P729,189,862 in agricultural crops after Pedring ravaged parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila. Alcala specifically said there was a production loss of 39,175 metric tons of rice (equivalent to P654,268,722); 6,322 metric tons of corn (equivalent to P69, 190, 140); and 110 metric tons of high value crops (equivalent to P69.2 million). He added that 67,627 hectares of farmland and around 50,000 farmers were affected by Pedring. Alcala noted, however, that only 0.6 percent of the country's fourth quarter production will be affected by the damage. "We will validate po ito sir... once nadrain ito (ang tubig), malaki ang tsansa na marecover (ang ibang palay)," he told Senate finance committee chairman Sen. Franklin Drilon during the hearing. Meanwhile, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said during an earlier hearing that 40,699 families lost their homes in 25 provinces in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 5. Soliman had said that they have allocated P62 million in relief funds for the victims of Pedring. Typhoon Pedring (international name: Nesat) exited to the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday and left at least 18 people dead. Mass transport was disrupted and millions of residents were left without power as strong winds and incessant rains battered a large swathe of Luzon, including Metro Manila, one of the areas placed under Signal No. 2 since Monday afternoon. — RSJ, GMA News