Maymay, Neneng leave P594 million agriculture damage

MANILA, Philippines — The amount of damage to agriculture left by Tropical Depression Maymay and Typhoon Neneng has reached P594.02 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported yesterday.

Both calamities displaced 22,437 farmers and fishers in Cagayan Valley, the Cordilleras and Ilocos region.

Damage to rice crops remains at P500.1 million, with 20,332 hectares of palay farms destroyed.

High-value crops incurred damage amounting to P57.73 million, with 921 hectares affected.

Meanwhile, 897 hectares and 632 metric tons of corn valued at P19.62 million were destroyed by the typhoons.

Losses in the fishery sector remain at P7.23 million including milkfish, tilapia and catfish as well as fish ponds, nets and bancas.

In the livestock and poultry sectors, 3,288 heads were lost to the bad weather, with an estimated value of P9.34 million.

The DA said it combined the amounts of damage left by Maymay and Neneng as the cyclones occurred in a span of one week and affected the same areas.

Displaced farmers and fishermen will be given rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry, and fingerlings, the DA said.

They will also be granted a loan amounting to P25,000 and payable over three years at zero interest rate, to help them cope with their losses.