Agri damage due to Maring initially pegged at P29.4 million

With Severe Tropical Storm Maring about to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday initially estimated the damage it caused the crop sector at P30 million.

Citing its initial assessment, the DA said the damage and losses due to the weather disturbance in the Cordillera Administrative Region amounted to P29.40 million.

The damage and losses reflected a volume of production loss of 1,713 metric tons (MT), affecting 1,128 farmers and 1,225 hectares of agricultural areas.

Affected commodities included corn and high-value crops, the DA said.

“These values are subject to validation,” it said.

“Additional damage and losses are expected in flooded areas due to ‘Maring’ and enhanced Southwest Monsoon,” it added.

Based on the combined data of Regions CAR, I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, VI, and IX, the area of standing crops that may have been affected by Maring totaled 1,469,985 hectares or 77.98% of the national standing crops for rice, and 298,523 hectares or 57.98% of the national standing crops for corn.

To mitigate the impact of the severe tropical storm, the Agriculture Department said it would provide the following assistance to affected farmers and fishers:

• Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas
• Rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds from affected regions
• Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs
• Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC)
• Available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers

“The DA-DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management) Operations Center will continuously provide updates regarding severe tropical storm ‘Maring’,” the DA said.

State weather bureau PAGASA said Maring was making its way out of the PAR, though Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 was still raised over nine areas in Luzon.

The severe tropical storm was expected to exit PAR within the day. — DVM, GMA News