THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said a total of P3 billion in agricultural interventions has been released to farmers and fisherfolk affected by Typhoon Odette, which impacted 10 regions in the country.
Of the P3 billion, Agriculture Secretary William Dar, in a statement, said P1 billion came from the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the DA for the rehabilitation of affected areas, particularly in Regions 6, 7, 8, 13, and Mimaropa which were directly hit by Typhoon Odette.
To date, agricultural damage and losses from Typhoon Odette translate to P13.3 billion, with 462,766 hectares of agricultural areas affected and 273,062 metric tons of total volume loss agonizing 533,709 farmers and fishers.
According to Dar, P828 million was set aside by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) as potential payout to around 79,217 insured farmers and fishers affected by the typhoon.
The SURE Loan Assistance Program of the DA under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) also allotted P500 million worth of loans to benefit 20,000 affected farmers and fishers. This program features P25,000 loanable amount per household, with zero interest, no collateral, and payable up to three years.
To aid farm recovery efforts, Dar said the DA distributed P500 million worth of certified rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds; P1.63 million worth of seed nuts, seedlings, and fertilizers from the Philippine Coconut Authority; P6.6 million worth of animal stocks, drugs, and biologics for livestock and poultry; and P.2 million worth of farm inputs from Philippine Fiber Industry and Development Authority.
Also, he said the fisheries sector through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also provided P31.58 million worth of interventions such as fiber boats, marine diesel engine, banca repairs, and various fishery products as relief goods.
Meanwhile, Dar said the inventory of basic commodities such as rice, livestock, poultry, and fishery products are enough.
“We keep a positive inventory of rice, which will be good for 115 days. We also have a combination of local supplies and imported frozen pork, and as for fish products, we are enhancing our aquaculture to come forward to elevate fish cuts as we have closed the fishing season this quarter,” Dar said.