ABOUT 885 farmers in three regions lost 228 metric tons (MT) of produce worth P12.38 million due to the damage caused by Typhoon Fabian to the agriculture sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
In its latest damage assessment report, the DA said Fabian affected 906 hectares of farms in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Western Visayas.
“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops and livestock. These values are still subject to validation,” it said.
The DA said bulk or about 94.8 percent of the reported losses were recorded in the rice industry, amounting to P11.7 million. The DA added that Fabian affected 893 hectares of rice farms with an estimated volume loss of 212 MT.
The typhoon’s damage to the corn sector was estimated at P175,500 with a volume loss of 13.5 MT while losses in the high value crops sector reached P222,300 with 9 hectares of farm affected, according to the DA.
The DA said the typhoon also affected 16 heads of swines worth P244,800.
Support
THE DA said a total of 104,471 bags of rice seeds, 11,390 bags of corn seeds and 1,949 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds will be distributed to affected farmers.
The DA added that it has an available quick response fund for the rehabilitation for the affected areas.
Furthermore, the DA said the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has sufficient funds to indemnify affected farmers while interested farmers and fishermen could avail of the survival and recovery loan program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
In a related development, DA Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) OIC-Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey assured the public that there would be continuous supply of highland vegetables to the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby regions.
“This is amid the various reported incidents of road blocks and roadslips due to the continuous rains brought by Typhoon Fabian and Southwest Monsoon,” Odsey said in a recent statement.
The DA said there is an estimated 1,066 MT of assorted highland vegetables that arrived in various trading centers in CAR as of Saturday noon. These trading centers are the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading center, and private trading centers, the DA added.
“Of the 1,006, an estimated 935 MT was brought to the NCR and 714 MT in the other regions,” the DA said.
Fatalities
MEANWHILE, authorities reported that at least three people have been reported killed while five others have been injured as Fabian continued to enhance the prevailing southwest monsoon despite having left the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) pointed to lightning strike as having caused the death of two and injuries to the third victim who were all from the village of Tartarabang in the town of Pinili, Ilocos Norte.
Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila up to Northern Luzon and parts of the Visayas have been drenched with days of continuous rain, triggering flooding and landslides that forced the continued rescue and evacuation of people.
In Marikina City and parts of Rizal alone, more than 14, 000 people have been evacuated due flooding or its threat, the same in Naujan, Orintal Mindoro and in coastal villages of Cavite where flood waters and sea surges have destroyed houses.
Affected barangays
BASED on the latest NDRRMC report, at least 212 barangays in the National Capital Region and in Regions 3, 4A, 4B and 6 and in the Cordillera Administrative Region have been affected by Fabian and the southwest monsoon.
The prevailing bad weather also affected at least 19,521 families or 87,493 individuals, of whom 22,693 were evacuated and are currently being served in 157 evacuation centers.
The typhoon wreaked havoc in Cordillera, spawning flooding and landslides based on the photos provided by the PNP, where its personnel were still undertaking relief missions or clearing operations as of Sunday.
Policemen and Philippine Coast Guard personnel were also jointly or individually undertaking rescue efforts in other typhoon-affected areas across the country where communication signal and power have conked out in some areas.