(Photo courtesy of DPWH Region II)
MANILA – The amount of initial damage to the country's agriculture from the effects of Typhoon Egay has reached PHP53.1 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Thursday.
In its latest bulletin, the DA said the amount of damage was recorded in four regions.
“Based on the assessment of DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs) in CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region), Calabarzon and Mimaropa and Region XIII (Caraga), damage and losses have been reported amounting to PHP53.1 million affecting 2,303 farmers, with volume of production loss at 1,871 metric tons (MT) and 3,185 hectares of agricultural areas,” it said.
“Affected commodities include rice, corn, livestock and poultry. These values are subject to validation,” the report added.
The DA, through its RFOs, is monitoring the effects of the typhoon and assessing the damage and losses it caused in the agri-fisheries sector.
It also continues to coordinate with concerned government agencies, local government units and other disaster risk reduction and management-related offices for the impacts of the typhoon as well as available resources for interventions and assistance.
As part of its available interventions, the DA is ready to distribute rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds to affected farmers and fishers; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; and fingerlings assistance to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Other forms of assistance include the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with a loanable amount of up to PHP25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas. (PNA)
