Crop damage due to Goring, Hanna, ‘habagat’ hits P375 million — DA

Residents remove debris from the flooded Mocag Bridge in Baggao,,Cagayan, earlier this week. The widespread flooding spawned by Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola) also damaged farmlands and infrastructure in many parts of Luzon.  and Western Visayas.(PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BAGGAO DISASTER RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT OFFICE)

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to the crops caused by Super Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola), Severe Tropical Storm Hanna (international name: Haikui), and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” has reached P375 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

In its latest update on Thursday, the DA-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) reported that the weather disturbances have so far affected 8,483 farmers in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), and Western Visayas. 

It added that affected commodities include rice, corn, and high-value crops with a volume of production loss of 15,856 metric tons spanning 16,145 hectares of agricultural land.

The DA said it is preparing P100 million worth of rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry to aid affected farmers and its Quick Response Fund for rehabilitating affected agricultural areas. 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Goring exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday evening, while Hanna entered PAR that night. 

Goring, however, would continue to enhance the “habagat,” which is expected to bring occasional monsoon rains over the western part of Luzon for the next three days, the state weather bureau said. 

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