Agricultural damage due to typhoons hit P1.6 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture due to typhoons Henry, Inday and Josie reached P1.6 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Records from the DA-Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Operation Center showed that at least 95,246 hectares of rice fields or about 19,892 metric tons of rice and 51,678 farmers in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas were affected.

A total of 6,755 rice bags were also damaged.

Central Luzon was hardest hit with P770 million in damage of which Tarlac incurred P423 million.

Damage to fisheries, which affected 1,050 fisherfolk, a majority of them in the Cordilleras, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, was pegged at P147 million.

High-value crops production losses at 1,255 MT, which affected 426 hectares, reached P44 million.

At least 1,431 hectares of corn fields were affected in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga, with losses estimated at P19 million.

Damage to livestock in La Union, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur was pegged at P4 million.

The DA committed P180 million worth of assistance to rehabilitate damaged farms and fishponds.

More than 30,000 bags of certified and hybrid seeds, including 100 bags of corn seeds, were also released.

The DA said it would also offer loans ranging from P5,000 to P25,000 to affected farmers and fisherfolk.

“I am instructing ACPC (Agricultural Credit Policy Council) to allot P50 million for Pangasinan out of the P100 million existing under the PLEA (Production Loan Easy Acess) for Ilocos and Pangasinan,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

Still flooded

Meanwhile, water levels in most barangays in Calumpit, Bulacan remained several feet deep.

A total of 33,617 families in the town were affected. Around 3,000 individuals remain in evacuation centers.

The National Irrigation Administration warned the public of imminent flooding in Isabela and Cagayan as it announced the release of water from Magat Dam yesterday.

The water level in Magat reached 189 meters or only four meters short of its spilling level due to heavy rains in watershed areas in Ifugao.

In Pangasinan  and Zambales, soldiers of the Northern Luzon Command conducted sandbagging operations in  preparation for more flooding due to inclement weather.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Resource Operations Center said food items and standby funds amounting to P1.6 billion are available for distribution to affected residents. – With Ramon Efren Lazaro, Raymund Catindig