Ompong damage to agriculture soars to P17 B

Typhoon Ompong’s damage to agriculture has reached almost P17 billion, the bulk sustained by the rice sector, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In an updated report from the DA-Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Operation Center, the agricultural sector suffered P16.76 billion in damage affecting rice, corn, high value crops, fisheries and livestock covering a total of 636,908 hectares. Estimated volume of production loss was 731,294 metric tons (MT).

Damage to rice farmlands was at P11.45 billion covering 474,838 hectares equivalent to 558,441 MT. The damage affected 288,422 farmers.

Nueva Ecija is the most affected province with losses at P2.84 billion, followed by Cagayan at P2.77 billion.

The DA had projected less damage as Ompong had originally been forecast to affect Batanes and Cagayan the most. Later, however, the typhoon’s course changed, hitting the rice fields in Central Luzon just as hard.

Corn production loss, meanwhile, is at P4.5 billion affecting 148,587 hectares in Cordillera and Cagayan Valley with estimated production volume loss of 281,039 MT.

Losses in high value crops have reached P788 million affecting 7,913 hectares in the Cordilleras and the provinces of Rizal, Cagayan and Isabela.

Damage to irrigation facilities was also reported in Ilocos Norte amounting to P15.7 million. The facilities included small-water impounding projects, impounding dams and spillways.

Damage to fisheries – including related facilities – amounted to P7 million.

As for livestock, losses have been reported in Cordillera with 20,316 animal heads affected, amounting to P5.51 million.

Meanwhile, state-run National Food Authority (NFA) released over 30,000 bags of rice to various areas in Luzon following the onslaught of Ompong.

NFA said 32,391 bags of rice were released to relief agencies and local government units for distribution in Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol.

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