Agri damage due to Maymay, Neneng estimated at P355.63M

The damage and losses to agriculture left by two consecutive typhoons which wrought havoc in Northern Luzon stood at P355.63 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.

Citing initial assessment, the DA said Tropical Depression Maymay and Typhoon Neneng (international name: Nesat) affected 15,850 hectares of agricultural lands in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley.

The tropical cyclones destroyed 25,297 metric tons of crops, affecting 11,928 farmers.

Damaged commodities include rice, corn and high value crops.

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

“The values of damage and losses for ‘Maymay’ and ‘Neneng’ have been combined as the two tropical cyclones occurred in a span of one week and affected the same agricultural areas in CAR, Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley,” it said.

The Agriculture department said it continuously coordinates with concerned national government agencies, local government units,  and other disaster risk reduction and management-related offices for the impact of the tropical cyclones, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance.

“Mobile KADIWA centers are being set up for rolling out in areas affected by ‘Maymay’ and ‘Neneng’ to stabilize prices and supply of agri-fishery commodities,” the DA said.

The agency said the following assistance are available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers:

• Rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds;
• Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry;
• Fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR);
• Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and
• Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

—Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News