AGRICULTURAL damage caused by the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and successive typhoons on local farmlands has breached P1 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In its latest report, the DA said damage and losses incurred by 30,073 farmers and fisherfolk have climbed to P1.03 billion.
Around 25,662 hectares of plantations were affected by the Southwest Monsoon (habagat) and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay. Of these, 21,440 hectares still have a chance to recover.
The volume of production losses to agriculture and fisheries across seven regions stood at 25,280 metric tons (MT), affecting rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry, infrastructure, machinery, and equipment.
The regions that recorded damage based on the DA’s monitoring were the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas.
Among the commodities, the agency said rice sustained the brunt of the losses at 16,105 MT, valued at P589.44 million. This was followed by high-value crops at 7,772 MT, worth P313.07 million.
Corn and cassava also recorded losses, which stood at 1,309 MT for P46.24 million and 84 MT worth around P954,270, respectively.
The P9.26-million damage to fisheries and aquatic resources stemmed from damaged fishing boats, gears, tanks, and office buildings. Losses included produce, such as milkfish, tilapia, mangrove crab, oyster, and giant freshwater prawn.
Furthermore, the livestock sector lost 6,036 animal heads worth P6.91 million, which included chickens, swine, cattle, carabaos, goats, sheep, ducks, horses, quails, and turkeys.
Irrigation facilities, farm structures, and machineries also recorded damage valued at P47.86 million, P15.21 million, and P80,000, respectively.
Despite this, the DA said it has ramped up intervention efforts to support farmers and fisherfolk affected by the weather disturbances.
Several assistance measures included P177.67 million worth of agricultural inputs such as rice, corn, and vegetable seeds. It also issued 1,007 bags of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) to the affected local government units (LGUs) of La Union and Batanes.
The DA also allocated an initial amount of P35.67 million for the indemnification of 5,005 insured affected farmers and fisherfolk through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
Loan offers of up to P25,000 from the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) are also available. These come with a three-year repayment term, interest-free.