DA rolls out interventions as Maring’s damage to agriculture rises to P1.21 billion

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday it has rolled out P1.5 billion worth of interventions to aid farmers and fisherfolk affected by the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Maring. 

In its latest bulletin, the DA said the damage and losses to agriculture brought by Maring rose to P1.21 billion from P1.17 billion.

The storm affected 42,787 farmers and fishermen with volume of production loss at 68,891 metric tons (MT) and 61,234 hectares of agricultural areas destroyed. 

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

With this, the DA is rolling out P1.5 billion worth of assistance, P650 million of which is allotted to provide emergency loans to affected farmers and fisherfolk under the SURE (Survival and Recovery) Calamity Loan Assistance Program through the DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC). 

Affected farmers and fisherfolk can borrow P20,000 each, at zero interest, no collateral, and payable in 10 years.

Aside from the agricultural loan, the DA has also set aside P172 million under its Quick Response Fund (QRF) to rehabilitate affected areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN.

At least P370 million worth of crop insurance was also made available by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers in CAR, Regions I, II, III, and Mimaropa.

“As part of the immediate response of the national government, Secretary William Dar also guaranteed the availability and rapid dispersal of rice, seeds, and other planting materials to affected farmers,” the DA said.

Also available for distribution are 168,998 bags of rice seeds; 16,601 bags of corn seeds, and 1,480 kgs of assorted vegetables from affected regions; and drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry, with a total worth of P310 million.

The DA said prior to Maring’s onslaught, a total of 28,952 hectares of rice have been harvested from Regions I and II with an equivalent production of 141,635 metric tons amounting to P2.08 billion.

As for corn, a total of 13,776 hectares have been harvested from Region II, with an equivalent production of 55,654 metric tons amounting to P779.15 million.

The DA said it is further assessing and validating the damage and losses brought by Maring in the agri-fisheries sector through its Regional Field Offices (RFOs).

The department said it would also maintain close coordination with concerned government offices, local government units, and other disaster risk reduction and management-related offices to assess further the impact of the severe tropical storm and available resources for interventions and assistance. — VBL, GMA News