Odette agriculture damage climbs to P11.1 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture due to Typhoon Odette has increased to P11.1 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center reported yesterday.

The DA said 389,316 farmers and fishermen in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga and 420,465 hectares of agricultural land have been affected so far.

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

Fisheries accounted for 27 percent of the damage valued at P3 billion; rice, P2.6 billion; high-value crops, P1.5 billion; coconut, P1.5 billion, sugarcane, P1.2 billion, and irrigation and agri-facilities, P411.4 million.

Meanwhile, damage to the power sector climbed to P3.36 billion as more electric cooperatives submitted their reports.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said 33 power cooperatives incurred losses.

Data from NEA’s disaster risk reduction and management department showed that the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative Inc. incurred losses of P723 million followed by Bohol Electric Cooperative Inc., with P545.54 million, and Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc., P433.79 million.

The NEA said restoration of household connections reached 68.6 percent or 2.56 million households.