Damage to rice production in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Region 3 (Central Luzon) that were hit by Typhoon Rosita reached PHP112.01 million on Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. In its report as of Oct. 31, the DA-Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Operation Center said the affected area is 7,429 hectares out of the total rice standing crop of 543,993 hectares, while the volume of production loss is at 6,560 metric tons. “Most of the affected rice crops are on their reproductive stage, which was reported as partially damaged,” it said. The recent typhoon affected 4,917 farmers in Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Aurora, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales, it added. The report said rice contributed to the largest share of damages and losses from Typhoon Rosita at 99.82 percent. It said typhoon damage to high-value crops amounted to PHP199,079, affecting 19 hectares of assorted vegetables in the provinces of Ifugao, Benguet, and Mountain Province. “This (damage) total to PHP112.21 million, affecting a total of 4,979 farmers and 7,448 hectares of agricultural areas with an estimated volume of production loss at 6,564 metric tons. These values are subject to validation,” it added. "Rosita" has weakened to severe tropical storm as it leaves the Philippine Area of Responsibility Wednesday afternoon. Source - http://www.pna.gov.ph