Gov’t still tallying toll, but farm loss hits P1B
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed on Saturday that more than a dozen people were reported to have been killed by Tropical Cyclones “Opong,” “Nando” and “Mirasol” (international names: Bualoi, Ragasa and Mitag), but the agency was still collating and confirming belated reports at press time.
As of Saturday morning, only four of 19 reported deaths were confirmed, although the NDRRMC also said that the storms affected more than 520,000 families, or over 2 million people.
The agency said a total of 407,914 individuals were preemptively evacuated across Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Caraga and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Negros Island Region, while 351,840 were displaced.
A total of 32 cities and municipalities were placed under a state of calamity. Power supply was interrupted in 143 cities and municipalities, of which 105 have already been restored.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), crop losses due to inclement weather have so far surpassed the P1 billion mark.
In its advisory on Friday, the DA said the sector sustained P1.08 billion in damage following the onslaught of the southwest monsoon or “habagat” and Typhoons Mirasol and Nando.
40,600 farmers affected
The latest figure recorded by the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center is almost 12 percent higher than P964.45 million in losses reported by the agency on Thursday.
The weather disturbances have affected 40,600 farmers in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas.
The volume of production loss reached 89,984 metric tons across 38,634 hectares of agricultural land.
“Further damage and losses are expected in affected regions as assessment and validation is on-going,” the DA said.
Rice sustained the majority of the losses at 72.54 percent, totaling P783.32 million. Most damage to rice crops is in the reproductive and maturity stages.
Corn incurred P194.78 million in damage, followed by high-value crops, which sustained P94.96 million in damage.
The DA has prepared appropriate interventions for affected farm producers, such as agricultural inputs (palay, corn and vegetable seeds) for farmers; tilapia, bangus and carp fingerlings for fishers; and drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry.
The National Food Authority has prepared 2.44 million bags of rice for distribution through local government units and other relief agencies.
The Agricultural Credit Policy Council is offering loans of up to P25,000 through its Survival and Recovery Loan Program, payable in three years at zero interest.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. will indemnify insured affected farmers.
At least 5,202 houses were reported damaged, while 243 road sections and 46 bridges remain affected.
The NDRRMC estimated the cost of infrastructure damage at P822.16 million in regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and CAR, while agricultural damage was pegged at P914.88 million, with production losses of at least 78,267.
Relief assistance has been estimated at P57.93 million, with about 68.93 percent of 122,800 affected families reportedly assisted.
