Paeng agricultural damage nearing P50 million

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Paeng left nearly P50-million damage to agriculture, with rice as the most affected commodity, according to preliminary data released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) yesterday.

Based on initial assessment, the DA said damage and losses have been reported in Negros Occidental.

The typhoon affected 762 farmers, with the volume of production loss estimated at 2,543 metric tons (MT), and destroyed 1,949 hectares of agricultural areas in Bicol, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Western Visayas.

Affected commodities include rice, high-value crops and fisheries.

The DA said Paeng ruined 1,887 hectares of palay farms, with 2,479 MT lost or equivalent to P47.25 million.

In light of the weather disturbance, the DA said it activated its disaster risk reduction and management operation centers nationwide.

The agency prepositioned seeds for rice and corn as well as drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry in safe storage facilities.

The DA earlier advised farmers to harvest matured crops and utilize post-harvest facilities.

Farmers were also told to secure seed reserves, planting materials and other farm inputs including feeds and water for livestock; move farm machinery and equipment to higher ground; relocate animals, and clear irrigation drainage and rice paddies of obstructions to prevent flooding.

Meanwhile, fishermen were advised to harvest their produce early, mobilize post-harvest equipment and facilities, and secure fishing vessels as well as refrain from venturing into the sea as potentially rough sea conditions prevail over affected seaboards.

Based on combined data from Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa and the Cordilleras, Paeng devastated more than one million hectares of palay and 64,336 hectares of corn, or equivalent to 70.59 percent and 26.64 percent, respectively, of the national standing crops.