Pepito agri, infra damage breach ₧121-million mark

TROPICAL Storm Pepito destroyed P121,697,633 worth of crops and government infrastructures in three regions, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday as it assesses the destruction left by the typhoon.

At least 5,555 families, or 25,268 individuals, were also affected in 111 barangays in Regions 2 and 3 and in Calabarzon, NDRRMC spokesman Mark Timbal said, adding 5,428 families, or 24,816 persons, were served inside, or outside government-run evacuation centers.

Timbal said that despite the figure, they have yet to receive any report of any casualty, or even a missing person.

“So far, we do not have casualties still and even missing,” he said.

Based on the official report of the NDRRMC as of 8 a.m., Pepito, which has already veered out of the country’s area of responsibility, triggered floodings in some areas in Cagayan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales and Quezon as a result of the heavy rain that it induced.

In Pampanga and Bulacan alone, at least 32 barangays were flooded. Heavy rains brought by Pepito also triggered landslides in Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Benguet, Ifugao and Mt. Province.

The Department of Agriculture ( DA), meanwhile, said about 6,000 farmers have incurred losses of over P67 million from the damage caused by Typhoon Pepito in the agriculture sector.

In a news statement on Thursday, the DA said the initial damage and losses brought about by Pepito in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Calabarzon amounted to P67.57 million with a production loss of 4,672 metric tons (MT).

The DA added that Pepito affected 7,704 hectares of rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock and poultry.

“The DA Regional Field Offices in the affected regions have available 91,067 bags of rice, 3,825 bags of corn, and 384 kgs of assorted vegetable seed reserves to be distributed to the affected farmers who are ready to replant,” it said.

“The agriculture secretary assures that the department will fast-track the delivery of interventions to affected farmers,” it added.

The DA said it has prepared the required quick response fund for the rehabilitation of areas to be affected by the tropical cyclone. It added that it has also prepared seed reserves from Regions 2, 3 and 4A.

The DA said farmers could tap the Survival and Recovery Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council and available funds from Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. to indemnify affected farmers.

“The monitor ing and field validation of the affected areas is currently being conducted by the concerned DA RFOS [regional field offices],” it said.