Typhoon Quinta leaves P706-M agriculture damage

Typhoon Quinta left the Philippines with at least P706 million worth of damages to crops and livestock sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

“The total amount of damage and losses in agri-fisheries due to Typhoon Quinta’has increased to P705.87 million from the previously-reported P401.73 million, with 33,545 MT of volume loss, affecting 25,483 farmers and fisherfolk with 19,971 hectares of agricultural areas in Ilocos Region, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula,” the DA said.

These values are subject to further validation, it said.

Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, fisheries, livestock, irrigation and agri-facilities.

“The increase in values is attributed to the updated reports in rice and corn from the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Zamboanga City,” the DA said.

It added that the DA regional field offices in affected regions are thoroughly assessing and validating damage and losses in the agri-fisheries sector, and thereafter provide needed emergency assistance to affected farmers and fisherfolk.

The Agriculture department said it is allocating a P795-million Quick Response Fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

It is also activating the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

The DA said it will indemnify funds from Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) for affected farmers.

It will also distribute a total of 30,280 bags of rice seeds; 8,071 bags of corn seeds, and 1,792 kilograms of assorted vegetables from Regions I, IV-A, V, VI and IX.

“The DA-DRRM Operations Center will continuously provide updates on Typhoon Quinta,” the DA said.—LDF, GMA News