Damage to the agriculture sector has climbed to P454.12 million as of Thursday, but an agriculture official assures the public this will have no effect on prices.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa on Thursday reiterated his statement from the day before when the Department of Agriculture (DA) was questioned about the potential impact of adverse weather on agricultural product prices.
On Wednesday, the reported damage to the sector stood at P323.15 million.
“This is still within the acceptable limit due to our projected losses every year because of typhoons,” de Mesa explained.
He emphasized that the rising cost of damage should not be a justification for unwarranted price increases, particularly for staples like rice and vegetables.
He noted that many vegetable farmers had already completed their harvests, and those who hadn’t would “easily recover,” ruling out any expected price surges.
Damage breakdown
The DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Operations Center (DRRMOC) reported in its advisory on Thursday that 20,959 farmers across 20,413 hectares have so far incurred damage or losses, totaling 13,376 metric tons (MT) of agricultural produce.
However, the DA-DRRMOC noted that 81.34 percent (16,604 hectares) of the damaged areas could still recover, while 18.66 percent (3,809 hectares) of produce or inputs were deemed completely lost.
Palay suffered the most significant losses, with 8,256 metric tons valued at P275.03 million across 18,490 hectares. High-value crops saw losses of 3,540 metric tons, amounting to P117.17 million on 717 hectares.
Corn losses reached 1,523 metric tons, worth P38.90 million on 1,197 hectares.
The fisheries sector also took a hit, with 543 fisherfolk incurring P9.20 million in damages to various species like tilapia, siganid, catfish, and milkfish fingerlings, as well as equipment like a motorized boat, fyke net, oyster raft, and a fishpond dike.
The agricultural damage and losses come from combined effects of the southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, the department said.
The livestock and poultry subsector reported P6.19 million in damages, affecting 1,150 animals including chickens, pigs, cattle, and carabaos. The cassava sector incurred losses of 35 metric tons, valued at P920,740 across nine hectares.
Additionally, other areas reported losses or damage to irrigation systems at P6.62 million, farm machinery and equipment at P83,000, and farm infrastructure at P1,000.
The DA said that the latest damage figures came from regions including Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen. These figures are expected to rise as field assessments and validations are ongoing.
Aid and recovery efforts
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who has returned from medical leave, said that the DA has begun distributing P596.5 million worth of agricultural and fishery inputs.
These include rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, seedlings, pesticides, forage seeds, free-range chickens, and fingerlings.
Additionally, 2,100 bags of rice from the National Food Authority have been delivered to local government units in Palawan, Polangui, and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Albay.
The DA plans to use its Quick Response Fund to accelerate rehabilitation efforts.
The Agricultural Credit Policy Council has also allocated P400 million in interest-free loans through its Survival and Recovery program, alongside expediting indemnity payments for affected farmers and fisherfolk.
“These figures are still subject to change pending on-the-ground validation,” Tiu Laurel noted. “This is an ongoing disaster, and with more storms entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the impact of the habagat (southwest monsoon) may intensify.”
Tiu Laurel has directed DA officials to visit the hardest-hit provinces to assess the immediate needs of farmers and fisherfolk. “Our farmers and fisherfolk have been through a lot,” he said. “We want to be there with them, listen to their concerns, and respond quickly so they can get back on their feet and move forward.”
NGCP ensures power stability
Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced that it has implemented necessary protection, precaution, and reinforcement measures to minimize the impact of storms and the prevailing southwest monsoon on transmission line operations and facilities.
As of 1 pm on Thursday, all its transmission lines and facilities were reported to be operating normally.
The NGCP emphasized that its preparations include ensuring reliable communications equipment and having essential hardware materials and supplies readily available for facility repairs.
The company has also strategically pre-positioned line crews to facilitate immediate restoration work if needed.
