Indemnification payments for crops damaged by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine have reached at least P666.5 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Indemnification payments for crops damaged by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine have reached at least P666.5 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) president JB Jovy Bernabe reported that around 86,066 farmers across 10 regions were impacted by Typhoon Kristine, which swept through the country from October 22 to 25. The most affected areas were Bicol, MIMAROPA, and Central Luzon.
According to Bernabe, insurance payouts will prioritize rice at P413.6 million, followed by high-value crops at P167.9 million, and fisheries at P27.7 million.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has also requested the PCIC to assess damages from Super Typhoon Leon, which affected Northern Luzon. Although Leon did not make landfall, its gale-force winds extended over 600 kilometers from its center, producing storm surges up to 12 meters.
“The speed of recovery for agriculture after such disasters depends on how rapidly the government can deliver inputs and financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk,” Tiu Laurel said.
Tiu Laurel also directed the National Food Authority (NFA) to perform a needs assessment to determine the immediate support required by affected farmers.
Source - https://bilyonaryo.com
