The Department of Agriculture (DA) said initial assessments made by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) on damage caused by severe tropical storm (STS) “Kristine” indicate that indemnification payments would amount to at least P666.5 million.
Citing a report by Jovy Bernabe, PCIC president, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the assessment of insured farms affected by Kristine from October 22 to 25 showed a total of 86,066 farmers across 10 regions of the country were impacted, with more than half coming from the regions of Central Luzon, Bicol and Mimaropa.
Bernabe said in the report damage was primarily in rice, high-value crops and fisheries.
Expected insurance payments were estimated at P413.6 million for rice, P167.9 million for high-value crops and P27.7 million for fisheries.
“We have set aside an initial amount of P667 million for insurance payments to around 86,066 farmers,” Bernabe said.
Tiu Laurel urged the PCIC to expedite the processing of insurance claims and to provide all possible assistance to help farmers quickly recover from the disaster.
DA also instructed the PCIC to prepare for potential damage brought by super typhoon Leon.
“The pace of recovery for agriculture after a disaster like this will be determined by how quickly the government can provide inputs and financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk. That is why I have ordered all agencies of the DA, including attached corporations such as the NFA (National Food Authority) and PCIC, to conduct quick needs assessments so that help can be provided immediately,” said Tiu Laurel.
Cost of damage to the agriculture sector of STS Kristine is P5.75 billion, according to data from DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center as of Saturday noon.
That is equivalent to 557,851 metric tons (MT) of goods tended by 131,661 farmers and fishers in 109,871 hectares (ha) of affected areas.
The DA said the monitoring captured data on damage in the regions of Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Soccsksargen and Caraga.
Bulk of Kristine’s recorded damage is on rice at P4.25 billion equivalent to 516,438 MT from a total of 100,242 ha, wherein 64,166 ha or 64.01 percent is partially damaged while 36,076 ha or 35.99 percent is totally damaged.
Damage to high value crops amounted to P847.48 million; P446.22 million from 416 MT of fisheries; P72.15 million from 3,334 MT of corn; P50.41 million in farm structures; P38.89 million from 2,047 MT of cassava; P27 million in irrigation facilities; P12.52 million from 6,112 heads of livestock and poultry; and P300,000 in machineries and equipment.
The DA said assistance included P541.02 million worth of agricultural inputs including rice, corn and vegetable seeds as well as drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry.
A P1-billion quick response fund has been set aside for the rehabilitation and recovery of affected areas and bags of rice stocks from NFA for distribution as relief as well as the deployment of Kadiwa rolling stores to affected areas.
A P500- million Survival and Recovery Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council offers up to P25,000 loan payable in three years at zero interest and indemnification from the PCIC.
DA said the NFA also provided 5,292 bags of rice for distribution in the regions of Ilocos and Bicol.
