“Base[d] on initial assessments, damage inflicted on the agriculture and fisheries sector has reached P10.2 billion, with rice, corn and vegetable suffering the greatest losses,” according to a DA statement e-mailed to reporters over the weekend. According to a separate summary from the DA, as of Oct. 22, rice bore the bulk of the impact from the two typhoons with estimated damage of P7.78 billion. This was followed by vegetables and corn with losses of P1.71 billion and P602.32 million, respectively. The fisheries sector saw losses worth P85.78 million while livestock damage worth P6.58 million. Cassava crops recorded P2.29 million worth of damage. The report is only partially validated and subject to further checks in the field. “This does not yet fully reflect the destruction brought by supertyphoon Lawin in these regions as we are still in the process of assessing all sectors,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol was quoted in the statement, referring to the later of the two storms. Mr. Piñol has ordered all DA officials and personnel to provide food assistance to affected farmers and fisherfolk, validate the extent of damage, estimate the number of farmers and fishers affected, and distribute seed from pre-positioned buffer stocks, fertilizers, fishing equipment, and other assistance. “I have also instructed the concerned DA agencies, particularly the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, to swiftly process crop insurance payments to enable the farmers and fishers cope with their loss,” he added. Latest figures show that more than 68,886 farmers were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Lawin, translating to more than 467,617 hectares of damaged areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol regions. Of the affected areas, 260,485 hectares are assessed to have prospects for recovery. Source - http://www.bworldonline.com