Agricultural damage in Ifugao due to Habagat flood reaches P14.6M —DA

Flooding in Ifugao due to the Habagat or Southwest Monsoon has caused agricultural damage worth P14.6 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Saturday.

This is broken down into rice crops valued at P4.5 million, and high-value crops, in particular, assorted vegetables, at P10.1 million.

Total rice crop volume loss is 239 metric tons (MT) from 120 hectares.

Meanwhile, the volume loss for the high-valued crops was placed at 489 MT from 78 hectares.

The total volume of production loss was thus at 728 metric tons (MT), affecting 198 hectares of agricultural lands, it added.

A total of 684 farmers were affected, the DA said.

The department said its personnel from the regional field are conducting assessment of the damage and losses due to the Habagat in the agri-fisheries sector.

"The DA continuously coordinates with concerned NGAs, LGUs and other DRRM-related offices for the impact of the  "Habagat", as well as available resources for interventions and assistance," it said.

The DA said it will provide the following to affected farmers and fishers:

• rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds; and
• drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry.

Assistance will also be extended to them through the following:

• Survival and Recovery (SURE) Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC);
• available funds from Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers; and
• Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

Parts of Ifugao were flooded and suffered from landslides due to heavy rains from the Southwest Monsoon. —KG, GMA News