By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On the heels of the onslaught brought about by the Tropical Storm Crising and the intensified southwest monsoon (habagat) in various parts of the country over the weekend, the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) on Sunday worked on urgently providing aid and assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the storm and monsoon rains.
“We must act without delay—weather permitting—to ease the suffering of our farmers and fisherfolk,” Agriculture Undersecretary and Officer-in-Charge Roger Navarro said, emphasizing the urgency of the government’s response across various agriculture and fisheries sectors.
Preliminary reports estimate the combined damage from the storm and monsoon at around P53 million across Western Visayas and Region IV-B, which includes Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan. Around 2,099 farmers tending to more than 2,400 hectares were affected. Officials noted, however, that this figure is still subject to validation.
Floodwaters have submerged fields planted with rice, corn, and other high-value crops. Poultry and livestock operations have also suffered losses. Meanwhile, damage assessments in the fisheries sector are still underway.
Meanwhile, the National Food Administration (NFA) has begun releasing rice stocks to local government units and national agencies to facilitate the ongoing disaster response.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) announced that it will also undertake a rapid assessment of the affected areas to initiate the processing of indemnification claims for covered farmers.
avds
