Agri damage due to Goring, habagat rises to over P500 million

MANILA, Philippines — The crop sector’s damage due to Super Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola) and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” has climbed to P504.4 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Friday.

Based on the DA’s latest bulletin, the recent weather systems have so far affected 11,965 farmers in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), and Western Visayas.

Commodities affected include rice, corn, other high-value crops, and livestock, with a volume production loss of 21,134 metric tons and 19,658 hectares of agricultural land.

The agency said that its regional field offices are continuously assessing the impact caused by Goring and the habagat and have coordinated with local government units and other DRRM-related offices to determine the needs of affected farmers.

So far, DA said that its available interventions include the following:

• Rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds amounting to P100 million;
• Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry;
• Its Quick Response Fund for rehabilitating affected agricultural areas; and
• Survival and recovery loan program.

Juan Miguel Talens, INQUIRER.net trainee

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