The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to provide over P2 billion in aid to the farmers and fisherfolk affected by severe tropical storm Kristine.
According to the bulletin of the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center, as of Sunday, P541.02 million worth of farming necessities are available for distribution. The necessities include rice, corn, vegetable seedlings, and drugs and antibiotics for livestock and poultry.
Notably, a significant loanable fund of PHP500 million has been earmarked, with each farmer eligible for a loan of PHP25,000. This loan, which can be repaid with zero interest over a period of three years, offers a beacon of hope for those in need, courtesy of the Survival and Recovery Loan (SURE) program of the Agricultural Credit Policy.
Furthermore, a substantial PHP1 billion quick response fund has been allocated to facilitate the recovery of the affected areas, demonstrating the government’s unwavering commitment to swift and effective disaster recovery.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. instructed Kadiwa stores to provide affordable commodities to affected areas, and the National Food Authority (NFA) supplied relief rice to the local government units (LGUs) that requested it, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other aid agencies.
As of Sunday, agricultural losses from Kristine were estimated to be 160,107 metric tons (MT), worth PHP3.11 billion. Rice production took the biggest hit from the storm, with a record of around 152,440 MT losses, worth PHP2.87 billion.
74,554 farmers were affected in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.
The DA noted that 60 to 70% of farmers in affected areas were able to harvest their palay before Kristine hit them.
DA recorded the damage and high-value crops amounted to P121.08 million; P41.66 for farm structures and P26 million in irrigation facilities; P22.27 million in corn; P11.20 million in fisheries, affecting 98 fishers; P6.55 million in cassava; and P3.73 million for 2,862 heads in livestock and poultry.