The Department of Agriculture said it has allocated P495.4 million in agricultural inputs, including rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, to help farmers affected by tropical storm Crising and habagat in at least six regions, including Western Visayas.
Agriculture undersecretary for Operations and DA officer-in-charge, Roger Navarro, said that additional support, including Quick Response Funds (QRFs) for rehabilitation, survival and recovery loans, and indemnification through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), will also be made immediately available to affected farmers and fisherfolk.
Preliminary damage estimates from the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operations Center (DRRMOC) show that the combined impact of TS Crising and habagat caused P134.7 million in losses in rice, corn, cassava, high value crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry.
Affected areas span 8,035 hectares while affected farmers and fisherfolk number 6,377. These numbers, however, are still under validation of field offices in regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B and 6.
“These figures are still subject to change as we continue to assess the situation on the ground,” Navarro said in a statement July 22.
He added that the DA, in collaboration with other government agencies, is closely monitoring the crisis to mitigate disruptions in the food supply chain, particularly for highland vegetables.
“We are keeping a close watch to prevent significant price increases on key agricultural commodities,” Navarro added.
The National Food Authority is also ready to release rice stocks to support affected local government units and national disaster relief efforts, the DA added. ||
