Agri damage of southwest monsoon, Typhoon Carina reached ₱203.38 M
By Jel Santos

The agricultural damage wrought by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Carina reached ₱203.38 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) disclosed on Thursday, July 25.
Based on the DA’s Bulletin No. 8, the affected areas in the said figure cover Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and Caraga regions.
A total of 9,198 farmers were affected by the typhoon and the southwest monsoon, the agency added.
The DA reported that the typhoon and southwest monsoon caused a production loss of 2,574 metric tons (MT) and impacted 10,688 hectares (ha) of farmland.
Per the agriculture department, it has provided 72,174 bags of rice seeds, 39,546 bags of corn seeds, 59,600 pouches and 1,966 kilograms of vegetable seeds.
The DA has made the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) available, providing loans of up to P25,000, payable over three years with no interest.
As such, the Quick Response Fund (QRF) is now available to affected farmers for the rehabilitation of affected areas.
The agency added that the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) funds were made available to indemnify farmers who were impacted.
According to the state weather bureau PAGASA, Typhoon “Carina” (international name: Gaemi) left the country's area of responsibility on Thursday morning, July 25.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” strengthened by Carina, may cause “strong to gale-force” gusts in regions of Luzon.