Agri losses due to Odette now P10B
THE damage and losses in agricultural products, farmlands, infrastructures, machineries and equipment caused by typhoon Odette have already reached to P10.7-billion.
In its Bulletin No. 23 on TY “ODETTE;” issued at 3 pm, Jan. 3, the Department of Agriculture said that the damage and losses have been reported in Regions CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.
The DA reported that there are 163,760 farmers and fishers who were affected with volume of production loss at 244,924 metric tons (MT) and 370,142 hectares of agricultural areas.
Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, coconut, sugarcane, livestock, and fisheries. Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machineries and equipment.
These values are subject to validation.
The DA, however, said that prior to “ODETTE”, a total area of 11,454 hectares of rice have been harvested from Regions Mimaropa, VI, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII with an equivalent production of 34,433 metric tons amounting to P615.53M.
As for corn, a total of 2,452 hectares have been harvested from Region IV-A, Mimaropa, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII with an equivalent production of 6,965 metric tons amounting to P82.55 million.
The DA through its Regional Field Offices (RFOs), is conducting assessment of damage and losses in the agri-fisheries sector.
The DA disclosed that at least P2.9-billion of readily-available assistance will be provided to farmers and fisherfolk affected.
These assistance include a P1-B worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas; P828-M from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers and P500-M under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for 20,000 farmers and fisherfolk at P25,000 each.
Other assistance are P314-M worth of rice seeds, P129-M worth of corn seeds, and P57-M worth of assorted vegetables; P47-M worth of assistance to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); P6.6-M worth of animal stocks, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; and available funds from Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
