The Philippines lost P1.61-billion (some $27 million) worth of palay from the devastation caused by Supertyphoon “Karding” across 145,229 hectares of rice farms in six regions.
In its latest report, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the recorded damage and losses in the rice sector rose by 67.74 percent from an earlier estimate of P959.8 million after it received more information from the affected areas.
The DA added that rice farmers lost 105,154 metric tons (MT) of production due to the typhoon’s damage.
The DA noted that the rice sector accounted for 81.72 percent of the estimated P1.97-billion total damage and losses caused by Karding to the agriculture sector.
The recorded agricultural damage due to Karding rose from an earlier estimate of P1.29 billion.
The DA said assessments made by its regional field offices (RFOs) showed that about 148,091 hectares of farmlands were affected by Karding with a total production loss estimate of 114,446 MT. The DA added that a total of 88,520 farmers and fisherfolk loss income due to the weather disturbance.
The damage and losses were recorded across the regions of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Bicol Region.
“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries. These values are subject to validation,” the DA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DA-DRRM OpCen) said in its sixth bulletin on Karding.
“The increase in overall damage and losses is due to additional reports on rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and fisheries in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Bicol Region,” it added.
The recorded damage and losses in the high value crops sector has climbed to P271.6 million after Karding affected 1,131 hectares of farms, damaging 7,471 MT of assorted fruits, vegetables, legumes and spices.
The DA said it has now recorded P43.1 million worth of damage and losses in the corn sector and P41.8 million worth in the fisheries sector. The livestock and poultry sector incurred P7.3 million worth of losses after 44,392 heads were affected by the typhoon.
“The Department of Agriculture, through its Regional Field Offices, is conducting assessment of damage and losses brought by Supertyphoon Karding in the agri-fisheries sector,” it said.
“The DA continuously coordinates with concerned [national government agencies], [local government units] and other DRRM-related offices for the impact of Karding, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance,” it added.
The DA has increased its available assistance for distribution to affected farmers and fisherfolk. The DA said it now has P170.34 million worth of rice seeds, P23.16 million worth of corn seeds and P13.55 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds for distribution.
Furthermore, the DA said it is ready to distribute P2.45 million worth of animal heads, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry raisers. The DA added that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has available fingerlings and fishing paraphernalia to provide to affected fisherfolk.
The DA-DRRM OpCen added that typhoon-affected farmers and fisherfolk may avail of P25,000 worth of loan payable in three years at zero interest through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s Survival and Recovery Loan program.
The DA has a P500 million worth of quick response fund to rehabilitate the affected areas, according to the DA-DRRM OpCen.
The DA has also mobilized Kadiwa centers in areas affected by Karding to stabilize prices and supply of agri-fishery commodities.
DPWH infra damage report
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), meanwhile, reported that Typhoon Karding’s partial cost of damage to national roads, bridges, and flood-control structures has been placed at P135.09 million.
Through its initial assessment, the agency said the typhoon’s damage to roads was at P34.71 million, P22.39 million to bridges, and P77.99 million to flood-control structures.
The estimate is still “subject to field validation.”
“By area, the Cordillera Administrative Region’s damage to infrastructure is at P19.6 million; Region 2 at P9.11 million; Region 3 at P91.38 million; Region 4B at P3 million; and Region 6 at P12 million,” the public works department said.
The typhoon pummeled parts of the Philippines on Sunday.
As of Wednesday, five national roads remain closed to traffic. These are the Kennon Road in Benguet, the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Overflow Bridge in Isabela, the Baliwag Candaba – Sta.Ana Road in Pampanga, the Hamtic-Bia-an-Egaña-Sibalom Road in Antique, and the Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road.
Three national roads are still with limited access due to flooding, namely: the Gapan Ft. Magsaysay Road, the Candaba-Sana Miguel Road, and the Angeles-Porac-Floridablanca Dinalupihan Road.
With Lorenz S. Marasigan
Image credits: AP