Agri losses due to Paeng now at P3.16B

• Published date: 05 November 2022
• Publication title: Philippines News agency

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday reported that damage and losses due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng now stood at PHP3.16 billion affecting 83,704 farmers and fishers.

The volume of production loss was recorded at 197,811 metric tons (MT) planted to 84,677 hectares of farmlands in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Mindanao, and Soccsksargen regions.

Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry. Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machinery and equipment.

The DA has already distributed PHP1.74 billion worth of rice seeds, PHP11.57 million worth of corn seeds, and PHP20.01 million worth of assorted vegetable seeds to affected farmers.

It has also given PHP176,000 worth of animal heads, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; and fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The DA also allotted some PHP400 million for the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with loanable amount of up to PHP25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and quick response fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

Meanwhile, as the government continues to assess the damage to agriculture wrought by Paeng, local fish stakeholders assured that local fish supply remains stable.

'We want the government to know that our industry remains resilient regardless of the strong winds...