Agri sector incurs P1.37B damage from Ambo

Damage to the agriculture sector due to Typhoon Ambo last week has reached  P1.37 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday.

“After thorough field assessment and validation by DA Regional Field Offices in Ambo-affected areas, the final amount of damage and losses from the typhoon is P1.37 billion with volume of production loss at 66,760 metric tons, which affected 27,472 hectares of agricultural areas, and 70,533 farmers and fisherfolk,” the DA said.

The said values include validated and finalized reports from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol and Eastern Visayas Regions, the agency added.

High value crops are the most affected commodity at 67% or P915.15 million that included bananas at P541.97 million, papaya at P24.26 million and other assorted fruits and vegetables at P348.92 million.

This was followed by rice at 23% or P318.13 million, corn at 5% or P62.45 million, fisheries at 3% or P42.40 million, livestock at 1% or P17.94 million and infrastructure at 1% or P10.80 million.

To help farmers, fishers and other rural folk affected by Ambo, the DA said it has gotten in touch with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to make available funds to indemnify the 15,756 insured farmers and fisherfolk in regions affected by Ambo.

The Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), under its Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Assistance program, has allotted P20 million for emergency loan, at zero interest, payable in three years, to the affected farmers and fishers, at P25,000 each.

Rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds have also been distributed to farmers who will opt to replant once conditions permit.

The Regional Field Offices have crafted their respective rehabilitation and recovery plans for typhoon-affected areas for processing under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) and finalization this week.

QRF worth P750 million has been made available for downloading to affected Regional Field Offices for the rehabilitation of affected areas. —LDF, GMA News