The Department of Agriculture has mobilized emergency aid and farm inputs to help farmers and fisherfolk recover from the back-to-back onslaught of Tropical Storm Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan, which together may have caused as much as P2 billion in agricultural losses.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said initial assessments show that destruction in Catanduanes alone, particularly in abaca, coconut, and fishery, has already approached P1 billion.
“For abaca alone, the damage in Catanduanes is nearly P700 million. Coconut plantations were almost wiped out. These are preliminary figures, but I would assume that the total impact of both storms could reach between P1 billion to P2 billion,” he said, noting that the estimate does not yet include the nearly P1.2 billion in losses to sugarcane crops in Negros.
The Agriculture chief joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the latter’s visit to Catanduanes on Thursday to assess the full extent of Uwan’s devastation.
Despite the widespread damage, Tiu Laurel said the DA has prepared extensive post-typhoon support, including low-interest recovery loans, insurance indemnification, financial and fuel assistance, and the distribution of seeds, fertilizers, fingerlings, boats, and fishing gear.
“We have already deployed these assistance packages and inputs. We’re just waiting for the floods to recede and debris to be cleared so that those who can may immediately replant. Our crop insurance and credit groups are also in the field to provide funds so that farmers and fisherfolk can restart their livelihoods as soon as possible,” he said.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) has allocated P251 million to compensate insured farmers affected by Typhoon Tino and is now assessing the impact of Uwan for additional claims.
The DA has also activated its Quick Response Fund (QRF) and the Survival and Recovery Loan Program, which offers a low-interest five-year loan of up to P25,000. The Department of Budget and Management recently released P1 billion to replenish the DA’s QRF.
Tiu Laurel added that despite Uwan’s impact on rice-producing provinces such as Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and La Union, the country is still projected to enter 2026 with enough rice supply for 70 days—provided no major weather disturbances further delay next year’s harvest. Stocks are also expected to improve once the temporary import ban is lifted at the end of December.
He said agriculture growth—which hit 2.8 percent in the third quarter—may soften in the current quarter as corn, rice, and high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables sustained significant losses from the two storms.
To strengthen climate resilience, Tiu Laurel said the DA is accelerating the construction of post-harvest facilities such as silos and cold-storage units, which should be operational next year to boost buffer stocks and extend the shelf life of agricultural commodities.
