Damage to the agriculture sector from heavy rains and flooding caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng has climbed to P3.62 billion as of September 3, 12 noon, the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed. This is up from the P3.39 billion reported just 20 hours earlier on September 2 afternoon.
Across eight regions—Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Western Visayas—86,466 farmers have been affected, covering 74,809 hectares of farmland and a total production loss of 87,745 metric tons. Importantly, 71 percent of affected areas (53,114 hectares) can still recover, while only 29 percent (21,695 hectares) are no longer viable.
Rice accounts for the largest share of losses at P1.90 billion, with 59,872 metric tons lost across 67,921 hectares. High-value crops follow at P1.03 billion, covering vegetables, fruits, spices, and other crops. Fisheries and aquatic resources suffered P412.84 million in damage, while corn losses reached P119.84 million. Damage to farm infrastructure, machinery, livestock, poultry, and cassava complete the remaining losses.
The economic impact extends beyond immediate production losses: reduced supply may affect market prices and food availability across affected regions, threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of farming households and potentially driving up food costs for consumers.
To date, P609.79 million in agricultural inputs—seeds, planting materials, and over 9,000 bags of rice—have been distributed. P35.67 million in insurance indemnities has been released to over 5,000 insured farmers, while zero-interest loans of up to P25,000, payable over three years, are available through the Survival and Recovery Program. The DA continues to monitor commodity prices and transport support to prevent price gouging and ensure food reaches markets.
Field assessments remain ongoing, with further updates and additional damage reports expected in the coming days.
