DA assessing extent of Odette's damage to agriculture —official

The Department of Agriculture is still on the process of assessing the extent of Typhoon Odette's damage to crops.

Interviewed on state-run PTV’s Laging Handa, DA Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said the agency is still consolidating data from various regional field offices to make an estimate of the calamity's impact to the crop sector.

“Communication is a challenge for our regional offices right now,” Evangelista said.

“Wala pa tayong exact figure ng laki ng pinsala pagdating sa agrikultura pero ito po ay tinatrabaho ng ating regional offices kasama na rin ang BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources), which is our attached agency, dahil maraming coastal communities ang naapektuhan ng nasabing bagyo,” she added.

(We still don’t have an exact figure on damage to agriculture, and our regional offices are are working on it, together with the BFAR, which an attached agency to the DA, especially because several coastal communities have been impacted by the typhoon.)

Likewise, the DA official said that probably within the day it can release an estimated figure of the extend of damage.

Nonetheless, she said the Agriculture department is ready to assist affected farmers, fisherfolks, and livestock raisers once the report is completed.

“Once we have a report, we will have a clear-cut direction on what to do,” Evangelista pointed out.

She added that boats will be given to affected fisherfolks, while seeds and fertilizers will be provided to farmers.

Likewise, livestock raisers will be given medicines for their animals.

Moreover, DA’s quick response fund will also be tapped to help victims in the agriculture sector.

Evangelista said that as far as supply of agriculture commodities in the National Capital Region is concerned, Metro Manila will not be affected since the areas hit by Odette are not the region’s sources of agriculture commodities.

However, she said the DA will be monitoring the supply situation in Cagayan de Oro, Siargao, and Leyte since these areas were badly affected by the typhoon. —LBG, GMA News