The damage caused by Typhoon Julian to the country’s agricultural sector went up to ₱551.81 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

DA officials said the weather disturbance also affected nearly 30,000 farmers in a number of areas that include the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

“Damage and losses have been reported in rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and irrigation facilities,” the agency stated in its report.

The department said that the production loss reached 22,623 metric tons (MT) across 15,296 hectares (ha) of agricultural areas.

“The volume of production losses from the affected agricultural areas is estimated at 21,830 MT for palay, 742 MT for corn, and 51 MT for high-value crops,” the DA noted.

According to the DA, the agency has provided ₱166.67 million worth of agricultural inputs, including rice, corn, and vegetable seeds.

These inputs were distributed by DA Regional Field Offices in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Central Luzon, aiming to support affected farmers and enhance food production in these areas, it added.

Also, the agency said farmers can avail of up to ₱25,000 in loans under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program, facilitated by the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).

The loan, designed to help farmers recover from losses, is payable over three years with zero interest, providing crucial financial assistance to those in need.

The DA said it has ensured that insured farmers affected by recent calamities will receive indemnification through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).