Photo courtesy of Joan Bondoc/PNA
Agricultural losses due to the recent tropical cyclones Luis and May may and monsoon rains, or habagat, breached ₱1 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) disclosed as the damages of the severe El Niño phenomenon affected
more than 30,000 farmers and some 25,000 hectares of farmland.
According to agriculture secretary Francisco ‘Kiko’ Tiu-Laurel Jr., the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the Western Visayas regions recorded huge production losses reaching 25,280 metric tons.
DA assessment showed that the affected commodities included rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry, as well as agri-fisheries infrastructures, machinery and equipment.
“The damage count is expected to rise given continuing assessments and validation are ongoing,” Tiu-Laurel added.
In response, interventions and assistance have been readied for affected farmers and fisherfolk with ₱177.67 million worth of rice, corn and vegetable seeds prepared for distribution and 1,007 bags of rice for La Union and Batanes and ₱35.67 million in crop insurance payouts to be handed out for 5,005 farmers through Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
The DA is also offering zero-interest survival and recovery loans of up to ₱25,000 via the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
In the meantime, the Department’s regional offices have established pop-up stores at SM Baguio to provide additional market outlets for affected producers, while the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal is being monitored to help facilitate the movement and sale of agricultural products from CAR.
Kadiwa trucks have also been mobilized to assist in transporting farm goods and relief to affected communities.
In ending, Tiu-Laurel announced that they are coordinating with regional disaster response councils, local governments and other concerned agencies to address the situation and also monitor commodity prices and market supply to protect consumers and the public from overpricing and profiteering.
