Fabian and monsoon spell damage to infra at P1.17B; crop toll climbs to P698.76M
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) estimates that the damage caused by Typhoon Fabian the southwest monsoon spell to roads and flood-control structures has reached P1.17 billion, even as the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that total agricultural damage and loss has reached P698.76 million, affecting 26,994 farmers in seven regions.
In an advisory, the DPWH’S bureau of maintenance (BOM) reported that partial cost of damage to public infrastructure in Central Luzon is at P699.16 million, Region 4A at P224.2 million, Cordillera Administrative Region at P113.5 million, Region 4B at P65 million, the National Capital Region at P39.66 million, and Region 1 at P31.05 million.
The DPWH noted that its quick response teams have cleared 32 national roads in Luzon. However, six roads remain closed to traffic due to soil collapse and flooding.
The DA, on the other hand, said the weather disturbances affected 34,029 hectares of farms with an estimated production loss of 14,175 metric tons (MT) of rice, corn, highvalue crops, livestock and poultry and fisheries.
The regions affected by Fabian and southwest monsoon are Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region and Western Visayas.
The rice sector incurred the bulk of the production loss at about P586.01 million as Fabian and the Habagat damaged 31,900 hectares of farms with an estimated volume loss of 11,918 MT, based on the August 2 report of the DA.
Damage to the corn sector reached P37.57 million with a production loss of 1,538 MT from 841 hectares of affected farms while high-value crops sector lost P47.85 million worth of 719 MT produce from 1,288 hectares, according to the DA report.
About P3.37 million of 5,336 heads of chicken, goat, cattle, swine, and duck were affected by the weather disturbances, while the fisheries sector recorded P14.2 million of damage involving fisheries produce, equipment and facilities.
The DA said P9.53 million worth of irrigation facilities (diversion dam and irrigation canals) were also affected.
The DPWH said road closures were imposed for the following roads: Baguio-bontoc Road, Abra-kalinga Road, Cong. Andres Acop Cosalan Road, Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road, Sto. Tomas-minalin Road, and the San Simon-baliuag Road.
As of this writing, four national road sections have limited access due to flooding and structural issues. These four roads are the Baguiobontoc Road, the Junction Layac Balanga Mariveles Port Road, the Apalit Macabebe Masantol Road, and the Mindoro West Coastal Road.
DA field report
“THE Department of Agriculture, through its Regional Field Offices, is conducting further assessment and validation of damage and losses brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Fabian in the agri-fisheries sector,” it said.
“Moreover, the Department is in close coordination with concerned NGAS [national government agencies], LGUS [local government units] and other DRRM [disaster risk reduction management]-related offices for the impact of the southwest monsoon, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance,” it added.
The DA said a total of 2,398 hectares of rice farms were harvested prior to the effects of the southwest monsoon and Fabian in Regions 2, 3 and Calabarzon with an equivalent production of 12,649 MT worth P227.94 million.
The DA added that a total of 121,119 bags of rice seeds; 14,832 bags of corn seeds, and 2,199 kilograms of assorted vegetables will be distributed to farmers in CAR, Regions 1, 2, and 3.
The DA said it has an available quick response fund to rehabilitate the affected areas and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has sufficient funds to indemnify affected farmers. Interested farmers could also borrow through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s Survival and Recovery Loan program, according to the DA.