P16M agri products damaged, 1 dead, 263 evacuated due to Dante
MORE than P16 million worth of agricultural products have been damaged and lost due to the onslaught of tropical storm “Dante” in Visayas and Mindanao regions.
One person reportedly drowned while 236 families or 702 individuals were also evacuated for safety due to floods caused by “Dante” in the area.
This, according to a report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), posted on the Facebook page of the Information Office of Dinagat Islands on Thursday.
Dinagat Islands PDRRMO chief Rosario JRA R. Alon identified the fatality as Elpedo Honghong, 69, a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Edena in Basilisa town.
In Bulletin No. 4 issued by the Department of Agriculture, the total amount of damage and losses in agricultural products caused by the tropical storm was recorded at P16.12 million affecting 477 farmers.
According to DA, the volume of production loss was recorded at 505 metric tons while 780 hectares of agricultural areas in SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga Regions were damaged.
Affected commodities include rice, corn and high value crops. These values are still subject to validation.
The DA added that based on the combined data of CAR, Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X, the area of standing crops that may be affected by Dante totals to 337,068 hectares (86.34% of the national standing crops) for rice and 342,650 hectares (81.96% of the national standing crops) for corn.
The DA, however, said that there are several assistance available to farmers and fisherfolk affected by TS Dante which include a total of 170,774 bags of rice seeds; 34,820 bags of corn seeds, and 11,227 kgs of assorted vegetables from DA RFOs and Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.
Other assistance are drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs; Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC); and available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers.
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