Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) — Typhoon Ambo’s damage to agriculture has breached the ₱1-billion mark, with the sector sustaining ₱1.37 billion in losses due to the first storm of the year, the Department of Agriculture reported Tuesday.
Most of the damage was dealt to high value crops, totalling ₱915 million, with bananas accounting for the highest losses at ₱541.9 million, followed by assorted fruits and vegetables at ₱348 million, and by papaya at ₱24.26 million.
Ambo also damaged ₱318 million worth of rice and ₱62 million worth of corn, the DA said,
Ambo also left ₱42.4 million in losses in fisheries, the DA said.
DA Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes assured that affected farmers and fisherfolk would be given assistance, which would be coming from the department’s ₱700-million quick response fund.
Reyes added that farmers may also opt to apply for a zero-interest ₱25,000 loan to restart their business. The loan is payable in 10 years.
