‘Ineng’ damage to agri at P163-M

MANILA -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that damages and losses brought about by Severe Tropical Storm “Ineng” reached PHP163.09 million as of 8 a.m. Tuesday.

According to the DA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), the increase in the overall values was attributed to the reports from Ilocos Norte with PHP33.31 million losses, and Batanes with PHP1.46 million.

Agri-infrastructures such as irrigation facilities contribute to most of the damages and losses at PHP122.6 million (75 percent), followed by rice at PHP26.16 million (16 percent), fisheries at PHP6.38 million (3.9 percent), high value crops at PHP3.95 million (2.4 percent), livestock at PHP2.35 million (1.4 percent), and corn at PHP1.65 million (1 percent).

The DA said it is currently distributing a total of PHP18.1 million worth of rice, corn, and vegetable seeds to affected farmers in Ilocos Region.

Emergency financial assistance of PHP25,000 under the DA Survival and Recovery (SURE) program at zero-interest and payable up to three years, was also provided per affected farmer.

The SURE loan assistance, which is being implemented by the DAAgricultural Credit Policy Council ACPC), aims to support the government’s goal of helping agricultural households in calamityaffected areas regain their capacity to earn a living, and provide immediate relief to small farmers and fisherfolk through loan and emergency assistance package.

The DA regional and provincial DRRM operations centers and concerned local government units are continuously conducting field monitoring and validered

dation for further damages and losses caused by “Ineng” to the agriculture and fisheries sector.

Meanwhile, as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the weather bureau said Tropical Depression “Jenny” was forecast to make landfall in Aurora between 9 p.m. tonight, and 1 a.m. Wednesday.

“Between this afternoon and tomorrow (August 28) morning, intermittent to frequent moderate to heavy rains may be experienced over Cordillera Administrative Region, Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, and northern portion of Quezon (including Polillo Island),” said PAGASA.

Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains may affect Metro Manila, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula and the rest of Luzon, it added. (PNA)