Typhoon Ambo damage to agriculture at P1.14 billion —DA

The agricultural damage due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ambo has reached P1.14 billion, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Noel Reyes said Tuesday.

In a virtual press briefing, Reyes said as of May 18, the increase in the total damage and losses were attributed to the updated reports from Eastern Visayas Regions, Bicol Region, Region IV-A, Region IV-B, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The total damage brought a production loss of 65,824 metric tons covering 25,404 hectares of agricultural areas.

High-value crops suffered the biggest loss among the affected commodities, comprising 70 percent of the total or P793.15 million. These include bananas (66 percent), assorted vegetables (22 percent) and papayas (12 percent).

This was followed by rice at 16 percent or P184.58 million, corn at 20 percent or P117.11 million, fisheries at 2 percent P25.48 million, and livestock at 2 percent or P23.39 million.

Reyes said that the Department of Agriculture will quickly deliver interventions to affected fisherfolk and farmers.

He said a total of P700 million under the quick response fund will be allotted for the rehabilitation of the affected areas.

Reyes added that the DA has prepositioned rice seeds (109,586 bags), corn seeds (10,116 bags), assorted vegetable seeds (1.195 kilograms), and drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs.

The agency has also ensured that there is enough funding from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to compensate insured farmers. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News