Agriculture damage and losses in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, and Central Luzon brought about by severe tropical storm Florita have soared to Php 19.1 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported.

In DA’s latest bulletin as of 9 am on Aug. 25, 1,286 farmers are affected by the damage and losses, with a 1,132 metric tons volume of production loss and 1,833 hectares of agricultural areas.

Rice crops are the most affected commodity with 61.33 percent. It has a volume loss of 699 metric tons worth Php 11.71 million in 1,327 areas affected.

It was followed by corn with 38.25 percent. It recorded a 430 metric tons of volume loss worth Php 7.31 million in 504 hectares affected.

While high-value crops or assorted vegetables at 0.42 percent. It recorded a 3 metric tons volume loss worth Php 81,000 in 1,600 areas affected.

The vegetable products in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) on the other hand were not affected since no major roads were distracted, DA said.

“There are no changes in the volume traded at the centers in La Trinidad,” it added.

The agriculture department assured that the supply and prices of basic commodities remain stable in regions affected by the tropical storm.

The DA said it will extend assistance to affected farmers and fishers by providing them the following: bags of rice seeds; assorted vegetable seeds; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk; survival and recovery (SURE) Program; and quick response fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

It vowed to continue in coordinating with National Government Agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and other Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)-related offices to monitor the damages and losses and provide interventions and assistance.