Egay agricultural damage reaches P53.1 million

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture due to Super Typhoon Egay has reached P53.1 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

At a press conference yesterday, DA Assistant Secretary for operations Arnel de Mesa said the cost of damage is expected to further increase as reports from the field are ongoing.

De Mesa said the affected regions are the Cordilleras, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Caraga.

He gave assurance that there is enough supply of rice, meat products and vegetables despite the damage to the agriculture sector.

“We are expecting that the damage will increase in the next few days as our personnel are on the ground to gather and validate data,” De Mesa said.

In Occidental Mindoro alone, the DA said 2,000 hectares of rice fields were destroyed. Losses were pegged at P20 million.

De Mesa said damage to cornfields in Agusan del Sur was estimated at P18 million.

“The typhoon started in the eastern portion so it caused flooding in Agusan del Sur, affecting corn production,” De Mesa said.

The DA said it is waiting for reports on damage incurred in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.

“These are the top three producing regions when it comes to palay production,” De Mesa said.

In Bulacan, damage to agriculture was estimated at P17 million.

Ma. Gloria Carillo, provincial agriculturist of Bulacan, said 485.69 hectares of rice fields worth P9.8 million were affected.

At least 39.73 hectares planted with vegetables worth P5.9 million were damaged.

Losses to the fishery sector were estimated at P1.6 million.

He said the DA has a quick response fund of P1 billion that can be used to provide assistance to affected farmers.

De Mesa said the DA would also distribute seedlings and fertilizer discount vouchers to affected farmers.

Under the National Rice Program, the DA is projecting 67 days of buffer stock by the end of the year.