Storm Kristine agri damage hits P9.75 million

Coast Guard Station Albay and PNP personnel conduct rescue operations in Purok 4, Brgy. Batan, Batan Island, Rapu-Rapu, Albay  as Tropical Storm Kristine rages. (Official Facebook page of Coast Guard District Bicol)

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to the agriculture sector due to Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) has reached P9.75 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

In its 2:00 p.m. bulletin, the DA reported that Kristine affected 234 farmers and damages some 209 hectares of agricultural land with a volume of production loss of 598 metric tons. 

Hence, it started conducting price monitoring for possible changes in the prices of agricultural commodities. 

Below is the list of its available interventions / aid or assistance packages:

• Agricultural inputs such as rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, drugs, and biologics for livestock from DA Regional Field Offices 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 8, and 13;

• Up to P25,000 from the Survival and Recovery Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, payable in three years at zero interest

• Indemnification of insured affected farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation 

Earlier, the state weather service said that Kristine is forecast to develop into a severe tropical storm before making landfall in Isabela on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

 The storm was last located some 155 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, moving northwest at 10 kilometers per hour (kph) and packing a maximum wind speed of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.