DAMAGE and losses from El Niño have now reached P1.33 billion, the Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday.
As of 5 p.m. of March 19, the DA report indicated that the damage and losses had risen from P464.27 million to P1.33 billion with an estimated volume of 78,348 metric tons (MT) lost and damaged agricultural areas of 70,353 hectares.
The DA said El Niño has also affected 84,932 corn and rice farmers and fisherfolks in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The agency said 69,889 farmers lost 41,003 MT of palay valued at P814.44 million in 54,925 hectares.
The report also revealed that 15,043 corn farmers incurred losses amounting to P512.31 million. Total corn output damaged by El Niño was estimated at around 37,345 MT, planted on 15,043 hectares.
The DA said, however, that the amount of crop losses will still have to be validated, saying it will continuously assess the damages and losses incurred by farmers and monitor standing crops in vulnerable areas.
The government has also started to monitor water quantity and quality in areas that may be affected by El Niño, it said.
The DA said the Philippine Crop Insurance Council will immediately release indemnification to insured farmlands that would cover up to 100 percent of the damage.
Also, it said a total amount of P18.3 million has been released for cloud seeding operations.
The DA said the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Central Visayas and Soccskargen have conducted joint area assessment for pre-cloud seeding operations.
Cagayan Valley, Davao region and Soccskargen will be the first ones covered by cloud seeding.
Image credits: Suzanne June G. Perante