The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now consolidating its data on the total damage of typhoon “Odette” in the crop sector.

“Right now kino-consolidate pa po natin ang ating data As of now po, wala pa po tayong exact figure ng laki ng pinsala pagdating po sa agrikultura (Right now, we are still consolidating our data regarding the exact figures of the damage in our agriculture),” said DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista in an interview with PTV’s Laging Handa Saturday afternoon, Dec. 18.

Although there are still disruptions with their communication lines, Evangelista assured that their regional offices have already worked with DA’s attached agency Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in assessing the total damage of “Odette” in agriculture and coastal communities.

“Right now, our focus is the coastal communities na badly hit . So hindi lamang yung rehabilitation but also yung tulong po pagdating sa pag-pa-padala ng mga pagkain, yun po ang inaasikaso ngayon ng Department of Agriculture together with other government agencies, (Right now, helping the coastal communities badly hit by the typhoon is our focus. Not only the rehabilitation but also assisting these communities by providing them food. DA is currently working on that together with other government agencies),” she highlighted.

In a statement released by the department, farmers, livestock raisers, and fishers affected by “Odette” will receive P500 million worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of areas; P148 million worth of rice seeds, P57.6 million worth of corn seeds, and P44.6 million worth of assorted vegetables; P100 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC); P1.64 million worth of fingerlings and assistance from BFAR; and over P600,000 worth of medicine for livestock and poultry needs from DA's Regional Field Office V (RFO V).

“Sa ating mangingisada nandyan po ang ating tulong pagbibigay ng bangka whether bangka ang ibibigay or repair materials Pagdating sa ating magsasaka nandyan naman po ang ating mga bindi at fertilizers. Meron din po tayong binibigay na tulong sa ating livestock raisers, nagbibigay po tayo ng gamot para sa kanilang mga hayop (For our fishermen we are ready to give new boats or repair materials for their boats. There are seeds and fertilizers for our farmers, and medicine for our livestock raisers’ animals),” Evangelista said.