It's less than two weeks before the year ends but the agriculture sector still keeps on incurring damages due to typhoons.
As of Wednesday, the total damage and losses the sector incurred due to Tropical Storm Vicky already stood at P111.01 million, affecting 15,933 farmers and fisherfolk and 19,846 hectares of agricultural areas, according to the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).
Typhoon Vicky, which hit parts of the Visayas last Friday, so far resulted in a production loss of about 942 metric tons (MT) of farm yield.
The affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and fisheries in Cagayan Valley, Davao, and Caraga regions.
The increase in values is attributed to the additional reports from the said regions.
DA said it is now in close coordination with concerned national government agencies, local government units, and other DRRM-related offices for the impact of Typhoon Vicky and available resources for interventions and assistance.
"Close monitoring is also on-going for possible damage and losses that may be incurred in the agri-fisheries sector," DA said.
DA also assured affected farmers and fishers of available assistance, including rice, corn, and vegetable seed reserves.
Drugs and biologics are also available for livestock and poultry, while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is readying the distribution of fingerlings and fisheries paraphernalia.