A financial assistance worth P2.9 billion is what the Department of Agriculture (DA) is providing for farmers and fishers affected by typhoon "Odette."

This, as the DA recorded P11.5-billion worth of damages and losses in agricultural products due to the recent calamity, it said on Friday, Jan. 7.

In the latest update from DA, it said a total of 405,921 farmers and fishers were affected by Odette, while volume production loss was calculated at 257,672 metric tons (MT). There were also 435,447 hectares of agricultural areas that were destroyed by the storm.

The affected regions include CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga.

As per the DA report, the affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, coconut, sugarcane, abaca, livestock, and fisheries. Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machineries, and equipment.

The office of DA Secretary William Dar expects additional damage and losses.

The DA said that under the P2.9-billion assistance is the P1 billion worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of the affected areas, and P828 million from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) for the indemnification of the affected farmers.

The DA will also allot P500 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) where farmers and fisherfolk are entitled to receive P20,000 and P25,000 each, respectively.

The DA has also included P314 million worth of rice seeds, P129 million worth of corn seeds, and P57 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds in its assistance package. For fishermen, they will get P47 million worth of assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

As for the animal stocks, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry worth P6.6 million will be provided by the DA as well as 15,000 coconut seed nuts and available funds from Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

Despite the damages and losses, there were saved products after a total area of 11,454 hectares of rice have been harvested from Regions Mimaropa, VI, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII with an equivalent production of 34,433 metric tons amounting to P615.53M.

As for corn, a total of 2,452 hectares have been harvested from Region IV-A, Mimaropa, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII with an equivalent production of 6,965 metric tons amounting to P82.55 million.

The DA, through its Regional Field Offices (RFOs), said it was conducting further assessment of damage and losses in the agri-fisheries sector.

As per the instruction of Secretary Dar, the department has continuously coordinated with concerned national government agencies, local government units, and other Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)-related offices for the impact of Odette, together with the available resources for interventions and assistance.