Egay agri damage estimated at P53.1M

Damage and losses to agriculture due to Typhoon Egay have been estimated at P53.1 million as of Thursday noon, data released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed.

A report by the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center as of noon on Thursday, July 27, indicated that 2,303 farmers were affected by Egay, reflecting a production loss of 1,871 metric tons (MT).

The latest figures were a significant jump from the P255,000 in damage and losses reported as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, which only covered a production loss of 4 MT and 40 hectares of rice areas.

The biggest damage was recorded in corn, with 1,176 hectares affected. This translated to a volume loss of 1,837 MT, equivalent to P31.1 million in losses.

Corn was followed by rice with P20.8 million in losses and livestock and poultry with P1.2 million.

The DA said assistance is currently available for distribution to affected farmers and fishermen, including rice, corn, assorted vegetable seeds, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry, and fingerling assistance.

Those affected can also avail of up to P25,000 in loans through the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council. A quick-response fund is also available for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

Egay left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 27, but a number of areas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS). — VBL, GMA Integrated News