Typhoon Florita leaves P172.4 M damages to agriculture in Cordillera
BAGUIO CITY – Typhoon Florita left a total of P172,426,500 worth of agricultural damages to rice, corn, high value crops and livestock in six provinces of Cordillera region, the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera reported.
The amount, according to the agency, translates to a total volume loss of 10,135 metric tons (MT) of agricultural crops, and affects a total of 4,157 farmers and 4,972 hectares of agricultural land as of Aug. 30, 2022.
The most damaged commodity was corn with a total volume loss of 5,831 metric tons worth P99 million, followed by rice with a total volume loss of 4,227 m/t amounting to P71 million.
High-value crops were also hit with a volume loss of 77 m/t worth P2.2M and livestock mortalities amounting to P226,500.
Cameron Odsey, regional executive director of DA-Cordillera, the province of Apayao accumulated the most agricultural damages amounting to P99.7 million.
Odsey assured that the affected farmers will be provided with necessary assistance upon submission of the final damage report and master lists of farmers affected by typhoon Florita from the local government units concerned.
Lito Mocati, focal person of DA-Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, confirmed that immediate aid for the affected farmers are the available seed buffer stocks of rice, corn, and high-value crops to be distributed to farmers in the region.
For the livestock and poultry replacements, support is still to be procured.
Mocati added that a rehabilitation plan is already being crafted to cater to those who will not be covered by the available buffer stocks.
This will be requested from the Central Office through the Quick Response Fund (QRF).
Available seed buffer stocks ready for distribution by September amounts to P20.8 million; P8.4M for rice; P2.4M for corn, and P10M for high-value crops.
Aside from the readily available seed buffer stocks, the distribution of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) to eligible rice farmers in Abra, Kalinga, Ifugao and Mt. Province and of Fuel Discount Cards to corn farmers in Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao and Mt. Province are being facilitated, in coordination with the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAG).