The southwest monsoon heightened by Tropical Storm Ferdie resulted in catastrophic damages which has climbed to ₱107.42 million, reported the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“Based on the initial assessment of DA Regional Field Offices in MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula on the combined effects of the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Tropical Cyclone Ferdie, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on September 14, damage and losses have been reported on rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock,” announced the Department of Agriculture Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DA-DRRM) Operations Center on Wednesday.
As much as 1,327 farmers were impacted by extensive volume losses, at approximately 4,749 metric tons (MT).
Rice production took the biggest hit with damages totalling 4,340 MT, equivalent to ₱98.34 million, with Palawan bearing the brunt of it. Corn production lost ₱6.06 million, high-value crops, ₱2.99 million, and livestock and poultry, ₱29,000.
The DA assured that rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, along with bio-control measures will be distributed, and ₱25,000 interest-free, three-year payable loanable amount and indemnification funds will be accessible.
Tropical storm Enteng brought in about 51,728 MT of volume loss in agriculture, worth P2.26 billion.
