Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 24) — The cost of the damage and agricultural losses brought by the two consecutive tropical cyclones that struck Northern Luzon this month reached ₱594.02 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.
Based on information from its field offices as of Oct. 24, the DA reported that Tropical Depression Maymay and Typhoon Neneng left 22,437 farmers and fishers affected, with a production loss of 36,978 metric tons.
Maymay and Neneng occurred in a span of one week and razed 22,150 hectares of agricultural areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley.
The agency estimates the value of damaged rice at ₱500.1 million, corn at ₱19.62 million, high-value crops at ₱57.73 million, fisheries at ₱7.23 million, and livestock and poultry at ₱9.34 million.
The values of the affected commodities, however, are still subject to validation, the DA noted, adding that it is continuing its assessment of the damage and losses from the onslaught of the two weather disturbances.
Meanwhile, the DA said around ₱530 million worth of rice, corn, and vegetable seeds as well as ₱2.43 million worth of animal heads, and medicines for livestock and poultry are available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers.
Among the assistance provided by the DA are fingerlings and paraphernalia to affected fisherfolk.
Also available are the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council that grants loans of up to ₱25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and ₱500 million worth of Quick Response Fund for rehabilitating affected areas.
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