Agri damage due to Goring breaches P1 billion

The damage and losses sustained by the agriculture sector following the onslaught of Typhoon Goring has breached P1 billion as of Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported.

In its bulletin issued at 9 a.m. on September 6, the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said the value of production loss due to Goring has soared to P1.14 billion.

Goring devastated 44,928 hectares of farm lands in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas, affecting 35,006 farmers.

The volume of damaged crops and farm animals stood at 51,283 metric tons (MT).

“The affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and poultry,” the DA said.

Rice is the most hit commodity, with P979.42 million worth of damage and volume loss of 41,238 MT in 38,949 hectares of rice fields.

Corn followed with total value loss of P148.6 million, equivalent to of 9,723 MT of crops damaged in 5,911 hectares of corn fields.

High-value crops sustained P12.50 million worth of damage, translating to total volume loss of 322 MT in 68 hectares of farm lands.

The livestock and poultry sub-sector incurred P2.59 million damage, accounting for 1,488 heads of cattle, carabao, goat, chicken, swine, sheep, duck, turkey, and guinea fowl killed.

“The DA, through its RFOs (regional field offices), is conducting assessments of damage and losses brought by ‘Goring’ in the agriculture and fishery sectors," the DA said.

The agency added that it continuously coordinates with concerned national government agencies, local government units, and other DRRM-related offices for the impacts of the typhoon as well as available resources for interventions and assistance

The DA said it made available the following interventions to those hit by Goring:

• P100 million worth of rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds
• Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry
• Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with loanable amount of up to P25,000 payable in three years at zero interest
• Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas

Goring exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on August 31. —Ted Cordero/KBK, GMA Integrated News