MANILA, Philippines — The agriculture sector has incurred an estimated P1.1 billion in damage as Super Typhoon Rolly pounded many parts of the Bicol region and Southern Luzon over the weekend, Department of Agriculture, Secretary William Dar said Monday.
“As of today, this morning, the initial estimated agricultural damage and losses is totaling P1.1 billion which has been brought about by Typhoon Rolly,” Dar said during the Laging Handa special press briefing.
The initial estimate is lower than the almost P2 billion damage the agriculture sector sustained after Typhoon Quinta hit the country.
Dar, however, said closer and further monitoring is still being done to validate the total agricultural rampage caused by Rolly.
“Most of the commodities that have been badly damaged are rice, corn, high-value crops during this typhoon Rolly with almost 20,000 hectares and about 20,000 farmers as well have been affected and thus leading us to 1.1 billion of total damages during this typhoon Rolly,” Dar added.
Residents of Ligao City in Albay province take advantage of the sunny weather by drying harvested palay on Saturday, ahead of the expected landfall of Typhoon Rolly in the Bicol region on Sunday. (Photo by MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN)
Meanwhile, other plantations and crops in the typhoon-hit areas were spared because of the early advisory of DA and forecasts from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) according to the DA chief.
He said a total of 2,042 hectares of rice fields were saved in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol Region with an equivalent production of more than 1 million metric tons of rice worth P16.9 billion.
A total of 11 hectares of corn fields have also been saved in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Bicol region, and Eastern Visayas with an equivalent production of 45,703 metric tons amounting to P579 million.
Dar assured that DA is closely coordinating with concerned national government agencies, local government units and other related offices dealing with disaster risk reduction and management on the impacts of “Rolly” to the local agriculture sector. He added that the department is likewise coordinating with water management agencies for flood risk monitoring.