‘Florita’ damage reaches P1.13B
THE damage and losses in agricultural products and farmlands caused by typhoon “Florita” have already reached P1.13 billion.
In its Bulletin No. 5 on STS “FLORITA,” the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the damage and losses have been reported in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Bicol Region.
The DA disclosed that they were 6,647 farmers affected with the volume of production loss at 66,633 metric tons (MT) and 44,922 hectares of agricultural areas.
Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, and poultry. These values are subject to validation.
The DA added that the increase in overall damage and losses is due to additional reports on rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock in all affected regions.
The DA said that through its Regional Field Offices (RFOs), it continues to conduct an assessment of damage and losses brought by “Florita” in the agri-fisheries sector.
The DA also continuously coordinates with concerned national government agencies(NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and other Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)-related offices for the impact of “Florita” and available resources for interventions and assistance.
To help the affected farmers, the DA will be providing assistance to them, which includes the distribution of 69,046 bags of rice seeds, 3,840 bags of corn seeds, and 600 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds from affected regions and drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), on the other hand, will also distribute fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk.
The affected farmers and fisherfolk can also avail of the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC); and will be provided with the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.
