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Friday, March 29, 2024

DA places ‘Agaton’ damage at P3.27b, allots P723m aid

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The government has estimated Typhoon Agaton’s damage to agriculture at P3.27 billion even as verification and assessment of destroyed crops and facilities were still continuing.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) allocated P723 million for assistance to the affected farmers and fisherfolk.

Hardest hit by Agaton were the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, the Zamboanga

Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen and Caraga where a total of 73,891 farmers and fishermen were reported economically dislocated.

The DA also estimated the loss to agricultural production at 90,889 metric tons sustained by 32,689 hectares of farm lands.

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The affected agricultural sub-sectors consisted of rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, and fisheries. In addition, agricultural infrastructures, machineries and equipment also took a heavy toll, although the damage values have yet to be accounted for.

While the DA continuously assesses the overall losses to farmers and fisherfolk, the Regional Field Offices (RFOs) has started fielding relief and assistance.

A breakdown of the assistance includes P500 million in Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of the affected areas; P100 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) assistance program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for Western Visayas; seed subsidy worth P122.94 million; P130,000 of animal stocks, drugs

and biologics for livestock and poultry from RFO XIII; and indemnification funds from Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

The DA was also coordinating with concerned non-government organizations, the local government units, and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management for updates, as well as for available resources for interventions and assistance.

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