Agri sector damage due to typhoons nears 1600 M

The country's agriculture sector suffered nearly 1600 million in losses brought about by Tropical Storm Henry, Severe Tropical Storm Inday, and Tropical Depression Josie.

Combined, the three typhoons are also expected to cause a "hiccup" on the country's

rice production during the third quarter of the year, according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

Based on the latest report provided by Department of Agriculture's (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC), the damage and losses to the agriculture and fisheries sector caused by continuous rains already amounted to 1577 million.

"This will cause a slight hiccup [on the country's rice production] for the next three months," Piñol said. "But most of the areas affected can be replanted and the effect on this would only be delay in the harvest."

The DA is ready to disburse portion of the 11-billion Quick Response Fund (QRF) as part of the interventions, Piñol added.

DA Assistant Secretary for operations Andrew Villacorta said as much as 1160 million worth of interventions will soon to be released, which will be comprised of loans under Survival and Recovery Assistance (SURE) program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) and seed reserves.

As much as 26,667 hectares of rice paddies were damaged in the provinces of Pangasinan, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, Negros Occidental and Aklan with an estimated volume of production loss at 314 metric tons (MT).

Seedbeds were also affected wherein a total of 1,338 bags of rice were reportedly washed out.

The production loss in corn is now estimated at 11 million affecting a total of 60 hectares in the municipalities of Asingan and Binalonan in Pangasinan with estimated production volume loss of 61 metric tons.

Meanwhile, damage and losses in fisheries amounted to a total of 1136.16 million for the fish production and facilities. These include fishing gears and paraphernalia from CAR, Regions II, III and CaLaBaRZon.

The affected Regional Field Offices (RFOs) have prepositioned a total of 114,596 bags of rice seed buffer-stocks to be distributed to affected farmers in CAR, Regions I, II and VI (Certified- 76,414 bags, Hybrid- 35,980 bags, RS- 205 bags and GSR- 1,997 bags).

For corn, a total of 10,472 bags and 578 kilograms of vegetable seeds are for distribution.

Affected fishermen will also receive assistance from the DA.

Piñol said some non-irrigated across Luzon and Visaya also benefited from the continuous rains. (with a report from Francis T. Wakefield)