The damage caused by Typhoon Odette’s onslaught in the Visayas and Mindanao mid-December last year has breached P11 billion, data released by the Department of Agriculture on Thursday indicates.

Latest data released by the DA showed the damage and losses to the crop sector due to the typhoon stood at P11.1 billion.

The calamity affected 389,316 farmers and fishers, with volume of production loss at 252,956 metric tons (MT) and 420,465 hectares of agricultural areas in CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.

Agricultural commodities wiped out by the disaster include rice, corn, high value crops, coconut, sugarcane, livestock, and fisheries.

Also, the DA noted that damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machineries, and equipment.

“These values are subject to validation. Additional damage and losses are expected in areas affected by Odette,” it said.

The agency has earmarked P2.9B worth of readily-available assistance to be provided to Odette-hit farmers and fisherfolk, broken down into: 

• P1 billion worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas
• P828 million from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers
• P500 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for 20,000 farmers and fisherfolk at P25,000 each
• P314 million worth of rice seeds, P129 million worth of corn seeds, and P57-M worth of assorted vegetables
• P47 million worth of assistance to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
• P6.6 million worth of animal stocks, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry
• Available funds from Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)

The DA said that a total area of 11,454 hectares of rice land have been harvested from Regions Mimaropa, VI, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII with an equivalent production of 34,433 metric tons amounting to P615.53 million prior to Odette’s landfall.

As for corn, a total of 2,452 hectares have been harvested from Region IV-A, Mimaropa, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII with an equivalent production of 6,965 metric tons amounting to P82.55 million, it said.

The Agriculture department said its Regional Field Offices (RFOs) are conducting assessment of damage and losses  in the agri-fisheries sector.

“The DA continuously coordinates with concerned NGAs (national government agencies), LGUs (local government units) and other DRRM (disaster risk reduction and management)-related offices for the impact of Odette, as well as available resources for interventions and assistance,” it said.

Source - https://www.gmanetwork.com