Maring's damage to agriculture now over P2 billion

The damage left by Severe Tropical Storm Maring to agriculture has climbed to over P2 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday.

In its latest typhoon bulletin, the DA said the damage and losses to agriculture brought by the typhoon reached P2.17 billion, affecting 78,634 farmers and fishers and 86,481 hectares of agricultural areas in in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN.

The amount translates to a volume of production loss of 103,069 metric tons (MT).

Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and fisheries, and irrigation and agri-facilities.

“These values are subject to validation,” the DA said.

The Agriculture department said it will provide P1.5-billion worth of interventions and assistance to affected farmers and fishers.

The interventions include P172-million worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas, P296-million worth of free seeds of rice, corn and assorted vegetables for distribution to affected farmers, and P19-million worth of fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk.

The DA will distribute to affected farmers P1-million worth of drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs.

It also earmarked P650-million worth of emergency loan assistance from the DA's Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), where each affected farm and fisher household can borrow up to P20,000, at zero-interest, no-collateral, and payable in 10 years; and.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. will release P370-million worth of indemnity for 44,208 affected farmers in CAR, Regions I, II, III and MIMAROPA.

Prior to Maring, the DA said, a total area of 28,952 hectares of rice have been harvested from Regions I and II with an equivalent production of 141,635 metric tons amounting to P2.08 billion.

“As for corn, a total of 13,776 hectares have been harvested from Region II with an equivalent production of 55,654 metric tons amounting to P779.15 million,” it said.

The DA said it is conducting assessment and validation of damage and losses brought by Maring in the agri-fisheries sector through its Regional Field Offices (RFOs).

“The DA will continue to coordinate with concerned NGAs (national government agencies), LGUs (local government units) and other DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management)-related offices for the impact of ‘Maring,’ as well as available resources for interventions and assistance,” it added. -NB, GMA News