DA: Agri damage due to Habagat, Luis, Maymay now at P1.03B 

The agriculture sector has incurred P1.03 billion worth of damage and losses due to the onslaught of rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and the recent tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.

Ongoing assessment by regional offices showed that the damage were recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas, affecting 25,662 hectares of agricultural areas.

Of the total damage and losses, rice accounted for the biggest share at P589.44 million.

High-value crops suffered P313.07 million in losses, including upland and lowland vegetables, spices, legumes, citrus, durian, lanzones, mangosteen, calamansi, papaya, watermelon, banana, root crops, and ornamental crops.

Corn sustained P46.24 million in damage, with most of the affected crops in the vegetative and reproductive stages.

Irrigation facilities and farm structures also sustained damage amounting to P47.86 million and P15.21 million, respectively. Machineries and equipment also posted P80,000 in damages.

Livestock, including chickens, swine, cattle, carabaos, goats, sheep, ducks, horses, quails, and turkeys, suffered P786,250 in losses.

Meanwhile, fisheries and aquatic resources sustained P9.26 million in losses.

Cassava production also sustained P954,270 in losses, according to the DA.

Overall, the monsoon and tropical cyclones reportedly resulted in production losses totaling 25,280 metric tons.

The DA said the weather disturbances have affected 30,073 farmers based on its latest assessment.

Affected farmers may avail of themselves of P177.67 million worth of agricultural inputs like rice, corn, and vegetable seeds.

They may also avail themselves of loans of up to P25,000 under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

The DA also said the National Food Authority will also distribute 1,007 bags of palay-milled rice to affected local government units in La Union and Batanes.

The House of Representatives earlier approved a bill seeking to expand the insurance services offered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to better protect farmers and fisherfolk from losses caused by natural disasters, diseases and other risks.

If enacted into law, the measure would expand insurance coverage to include livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, agroforestry projects and forest plantations, as well as non-crop agricultural assets such as machinery and equipment. — RSJ, GMA News