DA: Agri damage due to Kristine now P3.76B

The agricultural damage caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine is now valued at P3.76 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Wednesday.

Rice still accounted for the majority of the agricultural loss, which amounts to 169,830 metric tons (MT), the DA said in its bulletin.

Other agricultural commodities affected include corn with 2,501 MT, cassava with 217 MT, and high-value crops with 17,874 MT.

The DA recorded 3,438 animal losses and 87,496 affected farmers.

The reported damage was based on the assessments of DA Regional Field Offices (RFO) in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western and Eastern Visayas, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga Region.

“As affected areas become accessible, further damage and losses are expected with the conduct of field validation by DA RFOs this week,” DA said.

Meanwhile, the DA RFO Bicol logged P2.1 billion worth of agricultural damage, with Albay suffering the most damage valued at P403.85 million.

The Bicol Region was among the areas devastated by Kristine, leaving towns flooded.

In a press briefing on Monday, Office of Civil Defense Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said aside from the downpour, the high tide in San Miguel Bay caused some areas in the Bicol Region to be flooded as water flowed back and did not exit the Bicol River Basin.

The DA said P541.02 million worth of agricultural inputs are available for distribution to affected farmers.

It will also help farmers through the Quick Response Fund, Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.

Kristine exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday, October 25. —VBL, GMA Integrated News