THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 estimated damage to the agriculture sector from the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) at P3.84 billion.
The DA also said that due to early preparation and warnings, a total of 341,812 metric tons of rice amounting to P5.476 billion and P85.619 million or 6,757 metric tons of corn were saved.
The breakdown for the damage is as follows: P1.93 billion worth of rice crops, P365.68 million corn, P795.74 million high-value crops, P27.83 million livestock and poultry products, P710.79 million worth of fishery products, and P8.24 million worth of irrigation and agriculture facilities.
The affected areas were in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Bicol.
The DA said agricultural losses have affected 104,733 farmers and fisherfolk, and 101,904 hectares of agricultural areas. The volume of production lost was 160,873 metric tons.
“Affected DA Regional Field Offices are continuously conducting field validation to further assess the damage and losses in the agriculture and fisheries sector,” the department said in a statement.
The agency assured assistance to the affected sectors especially rice, corn and assorted vegetable seed reserves, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry, Survival and Recovery (Sure) loan program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) and indemnification fund from Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to pay for the losses incurred. (SunStar Philippines)