The onslaught of Super Typhoon “Egay” (international name: Doksuri) has wiped out almost P2 billion worth of agricultural goods, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday, Aug. 1. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office) Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa gave this latest assessment of the DA on the damage caused by the typhoon to the Philippine agriculture sector. The losses and damage due to Egay climbed from the P1.54 billion reported by the Agriculture department on July 30. “As of to date, the estimated damage is already at P1.94 billion,” he told reporters during a media briefing held in Malacañang. The official said the affected commodities include rice at P950 million and P713 million for corn. Analysts earlier warned the losses in high-value crops and other other agriculture goods are likely to drive inflation up as the fishery sector was likewise affected by the typhoon. DA officials met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the concurrent Agriculture secretary, during a sectoral meeting on Tuesday to discuss measures that will mitigate the impact of Egay. “All the interventions of the Department of Agriculture are now in place in cooperation with our regional field offices and as well with the local government units, especially (in) those affected regions,” De Mesa said. Damage and losses have been reported in Ilocos region (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2) Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4), Mimaropa (Region 4-A), Western Visayas (Region 6), and Caraga (Region 13). Among these interventions made by DA to help affected farmers and fisherfolk were fingerlings assistance, Survival and Recovery (SURE) loan program, and the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for rehabilitating affected areas.