By Alec Go
Super Typhoon Karding has left P2.02 billion worth of agricultural damages covering 150,693 hectares of farm lands across seven regions, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Thursday, Sept. 29.
Based on the DA-DRRM Operations Center’s report, the typhoon affected 91,944 farmers and fisherfolks in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.
The estimated volume of production loss is 117,663 metric tons, and the affected commodities were rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries.
“The increase in overall damage and losses is due to additional reports on rice, corn, livestock and poultry, and fisheries in CAR Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Bicol Region and Western Visayas,” the DA said.
The DA is continuing its loss and damage assessment, and is coordinating with other government agencies, local government units, and other disaster risk reduction management offices for intervention.
Assistance
Currently, P170.34 million worth of rice seeds, P23.16 million worth of corn seeds, and P13.55 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds are available for distribution to affected workers in the agriculture sector.
Also prepositioned were P2.45 million worth of animal heads, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry, as well as fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Affected agricultural workers may also avail of the Survival and Recovery loan program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council with a P25,000 loanable amount payable in three years without interest.
The rehabilitation of affected areas will be supported by the available P500 million quick response fund. Affected areas will also be sent mobile KADIWA centers to stabilize supply and prices of agriculture products.
