Agriculture damage and losses caused by the combined effects of Tropical Cyclone Crising and the southwest monsoon have so far reached P52.74 million, according to the latest data gathered by the Department of Agriculture.
The damage affected 2,099 farmers in 2,466 hectares and involved the loss of 2,147 metric tons (MT) of farm produce, the DA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said in an advisory as of 12 noon on Sunday, July 20.
The report stated that 2,109 metric tons of palay, worth P50.72 million, in 2,457 hectares were lost. A total of 36 MT of high-value crops worth P1.73 million in seven hectares were also lost.
Livestock losses totaled 57 heads of chicken, swine, cattle, carabaos, goats, and ducks, valued at P231,000. Corn losses reached two metric tons, valued at P62,300, over 2 hectares.
The DA stated that the data on damage and losses originated from the Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas regions, with further damage and losses expected as field assessments and validations continued.
Based on the report of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the DA is expecting the transport of agricultural produce to be hampered as some national road sections in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Negros Island Region, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa have been closed or have limited access due to Crising.
DA Officer-in-Charge and Operations Undersecretary Roger Navarro has directed all DA agencies to mobilize swiftly and extend immediate assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by Crising and the monsoon.
“We must act without delay—weather permitting—to ease the suffering of our farmers and fisherfolk,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
The DA said that floodwaters have submerged fields planted to rice, corn, and other high-value crops, and damaged poultry and livestock operations. Losses in the fisheries sector were still being assessed as of Sunday.
Even the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Mindoro was flooded, the DA added.
Despite the setback, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said they have begun releasing rice stocks to local government units and national agencies as relief aid.
Lacson said that in Palawan alone, 500 sacks have been distributed.
Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) President Jovy Bernabe announced that a rapid assessment of the affected areas will be conducted immediately to initiate the processing of insurance claims for covered farmers.
“The PCIC has instructed its personnel to extend full assistance to affected farmers and expedite the processing of their damage claims,” Bernabe said in a statement on Sunday.
Aside from the PCIC indemnification, the DA regional offices will also provide affected farmers and fisherfolk with agricultural inputs, such as seeds, livestock, and biologics; offer rehabilitation assistance under the Quick Response Fund; and offer zero-interest loans of up to P25,000 through the SURE Loan Program, payable over three years.
In a related development, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced that it had fully restored services to all affected customers along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, on Sunday morning, following the collapse of a billboard on July 19, which had damaged its distribution facilities in the area.
The company stated that approximately 1,600 customers were affected by service interruptions. “Our crews worked around the clock to ensure that power was safely and promptly restored to our affected customers. We also had to allow for the necessary clearing operations related to the fallen billboard before we could safely re-energize the remaining affected customers,” Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco vice president and head of Corporate Communications, explained.
