The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operations Center said initial agriculture damages brought by typhoon “Tisoy” as of noon yesterday in Calabarzon and Bicol regions stood at P531.61 million.
The amount is equivalent to a production loss of 18,455 metric tons of rice, corn and other high value crops which affected 14,637 hectares and 3,808 farmers
Currently, DA’s regional field office in Calabarzon has available 3,230 bags of rice seed reserves, while the Bicol office has available 3,163 bags of rice seeds, 2,632 bags of corn seeds and 322 kilograms of vegetable seeds to be distributed to the affected farmers who are ready to replant.
The agency said further monitoring and field validations in other affected areas is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said as of 1 p.m. yesterday, 15 power lines in Southern Luzon were not available while two more lines in Visayas were not capable of transmitting electricity because of the weather disturbance.
Also, 11 230kV transmission lines were unavailable, affecting transmission services in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon. Inspection and restoration of lines will be in full swing as soon as the weather allows, NGCP said.
Tisoy, with an international name of Kammuri, is the 20th typhoon to hit the country this year, brought winds of 130 kph and gusts of up to 200 kph, damaging some homes and structures and felling trees and signage in urban areas.
Local governments evacuated some 225,000 people ahead of the arrival overnight of the typhoon which weakened slightly and picked up speed as it moved across central parts of the archipelago.
Tisoy also prompted suspension of air travel, school and government offices in the capital, and warnings of floods, storm surges and landslides.
