Goring, habagat agriculture damage climbs to P1.14 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture due to Typhoon Goring and the southwest monsoon or habagat has ballooned to P1.14 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a bulletin issued yesterday, the DA said 35,006 farmers and 44,928 hectares of agricultural land were affected, with production loss of 51,283 metric tons.

On Friday last week, the DA said damage to agriculture was estimated at P1.07 billion.

Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas were hardest hit by the typhoon and monsoon rains.

The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry.

At least 38,949 hectares of rice fields were affected, with losses pegged at P979.42 million; 5,911 hectares of corn fields, P148.06 million, and 68 hectares planted with high-value crops, P12.5 million.

Damage to livestock and poultry was placed at P2.59 million.

The DA said rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds worth P100 million were distributed to affected farmers.

The department said it continuously coordinates with concerned local government units for the impacts of Goring as well as available resources for interventions and assistance.

Affected farmers can also avail themselves of a P25,000-loan from the Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.