Damage to the agriculture sector from the combined impact of the southwest monsoon and super typhoon Carina aggregate P1.21 billion, up 3.4 percent from earlier estimates of only P1.17 billion, the Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday.
Some 22,088 metric tons (MT) of goods tended by 46,625 farmers and fisherfolk in 43,530 hectares of farm areas have been ruined.
The most damage were reported by the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga and Soccsksargen.
Some P635 million worth of rice grain or 10,639 MT were ruined by the super typhoon and another P360.80 million worth of fish catch and P113.83 million or 6,647 MT of corn were similarly destroyed.
Another P88.81 million worth of high value crops were also reported as damaged alongside P10,370 million worth of livestock as well as P1.60 million worth of infrastructure, machinery and equipment.
The DA distributed 77,496 bags of rice and corn seeds worth P305.33 million, 1,500 kilos or 63,494 packs of vegetable seeds and 4,240 cans of biocontrol materials worth P21.46 million to affected farmers and fisherfolk.
The agency also made available the Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council with loan funds of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest, a quick-response fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas, and indemnification from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.
Fingerlings, fishing gear and other equipment were also provided by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The DA said that of the 43,530 hectares of farmland ruined by the weather disruptions, 31,003 hectares or 71.22 percent have a good chance at recovery while the remaining 12,527 hectares or 28.78 percent is lost.
