The agricultural damage caused by Typhoon Paeng has ballooned to P3.41 billion, according to the latest assessment released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
The agency said the areas covered in the estimate are: Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Mindanao, and Soccsksargen regions.
At least 89,142 farmers and fishers have been affected by the onslaught of the typhoon, it noted.
“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock, and poultry. Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructure, machineries and equipment,” the agency reported.
The data of the DA showed that 89,011 hectares of agricultural areas have been affected, with volume of production loss of 207,854 metric tons.
For rice, the DA said around 80,066 hectares were affected, having a volume loss of P185,736 metric tons, with a total value of P2.05 billion.
The affected area for corn, meanwhile, was around 5,573 hectares. The volume loss was pegged at 4,950 metric tons or around P205.11 million.
Damage and losses for fisheries was around P201.73 million as the typhoon damaged fish ponds and cages; seaweed farms, non-motorized boats, municipal fishing boats, the DA reported.
Here's a list of all available assistance of the agriculture department for affected farmers and fishers:
- P1.74B worth of rice seeds, P11.57M worth of corn seeds and PhP 20.01M worth of assorted vegetable seeds
- P176K worth of animal heads, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry
- P30M worth for repairs/replacements of damaged boats to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
- P400M for the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest
- Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas