DA: Final cost of Odette's damage to crops pegged at P13.8 billion

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday released the final amount of damage and losses to the agriculture sector after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in the Visayas and Mindanao mid-December last year.

“After thorough field assessment  by DA Regional Field Offices in Odette-affected areas, the final amount of damage and losses from the typhoon is P13.3 billion,” the DA said.

The calamity affected 533,709 farmers and fishers with volume of production loss at 273,062 metric tons (MT) and 462,766 hectares of agricultural areas in CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.

“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, coconut, sugarcane, abaca, livestock, and fisheries,” it said.

“Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machineries and equipment,” it added.

The DA said it has provided at least P2.9 billion worth of assistance to help farmers, fishers and other rural folk affected by Odette.

The assistance provided are broken down as follows:

P1 billion worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas
DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs) has provided P314 million worth of rice seeds, P129 million worth of corn seeds, and P57 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds; as well as animal stocks, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry amounting to P6.6 million
DA-Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) allotted a total of 17,595 seednuts amounting to P1.48 million which will be provided to MIMAROPA, Regions VII and XIII. In addition, DA-PCA has distributed P150,000 worth of fertilizers that will benefit coconut farmers in MIMAROPA
DA-Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) distributed a total of P183,000 worth of farm inputs and planting materials for the replanting of damaged cotton and fiber farms in Regions VII and XIII

The DA added that the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), under its Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Assistance program, allotted P500 million for emergency loan, at zero interest, payable in three years, to 20,000 affected farmers and fishers, at P25,000 each in six regions (MIMAROPA, Regions VI, VII, VIII, X, and XIII).

“The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) will indemnify insured farmers and fishers for their damaged crops and fish, worth P828 million,” it said.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has also provided the following assistance:

Repair of damaged boats amounting to P5.78 million in Regions VII, VIII, and XIII
Construction of FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) boats for distribution amounting to P13.5 million in Regions VI, VIII, and XIII
Distribution of 520 units of marine diesel engine amounting to P12.3 million in MIMAROPA, Regions VII, VIII, and XIII.  —NB, GMA News