Odette agriculture, power sector damage hits P13.4 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture and the power sector due to Typhoon Odette has climbed to P10.8 billion and P2.6 billion, respectively.

As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said 56,486 farmers and fishermen in Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga were affected by the typhoon.

Volume production loss stood at 239,656 metric tons, covering 399,531 hectares of agricultural land.

“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, coconut, sugarcane, livestock and fisheries. Damage was also incurred in agricultural infrastructure, machineries and equipment,” the DA said.

Fisheries accounted for 27.9 percent of the damage valued at P3 billion.

Rice accounted for 20.4 percent share of the damage, with volume loss of P2.2 billion.

Damage to high-value crops was placed at P1.5 billion; coconut, P1.5 billion; sugarcane, P1.2 billion; irrigation and agri-facilities, P489.6 million, and corn, P431.5 million.

Damage to livestock was pegged at P468.2 million.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said it is finalizing timelines on the full restoration of electricity in typhoon-hit areas.

In a virtual briefing yesterday, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said power restoration is taking time because several areas are sharing equipment and manpower.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said it is restoring six 138-kilovolt lines.

The grid operator said it is targeting the full restoration of transmission facilities in Southern Leyte on Jan. 11, and all lines going to the Bohol 1 Electric Cooperative on Jan. 31.