SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Department of Agriculture-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center Region 1 (Ilocos) reported an initial damage of P26,532,572.66 in agriculture from severe tropical storm “Florita.”
Atty. Jennilyn Dawayan, DA Region 1 director, said as of 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, the DA-Operations Center reported an initial P21,954,601.04 in damage to palay.
Pangasinan had the highest loss, with 894.52 metric tons of palay amounting to P11,441,670.54, followed by La Union with 282.44 metric tons, P5,366,407.50; Ilocos Norte, 216.70 metric tons, P2,925,423; and Ilocos Sur, 116.90 metric tons, P2,221,100.
In livestock and poultry, only Ilocos Sur was initially affected, with P194,400, while corn sustained damage of P1,746,785.08 in Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
A total of P2,280,501.55 in high-value crops, mostly vegetables, were damaged in Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan while fisheries had P356,285.
Dawayan said to date, they have a buffer stock of 20,000 bags of rice seeds, around 2,700 bags of corn seeds, and 520 kilograms of vegetable seeds ready for distribution.
The reported damage is based on reports submitted by the local government units and subject for validation by the DA-RFO 1 validating team to draw more accurate data to determine appropriate needed interventions.