Manila: Government aid for farmers and fishers affected by Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the enhanced southwest monsoon has reached nearly PHP1.2 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Wednesday. In a virtual press briefing, Agriculture spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa assured that the interventions are already prepositioned for distribution.
According to Philippines News Agency, initial assistance includes PHP545.56 million worth of rice, corn, and vegetable seeds for farmers in regions such as Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, and Soccsksargen. The Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) has also allocated PHP400 million under its Survival and Recovery (SURE) loan program, offering up to PHP25,000 per borrower, payable over three years.
De Mesa further revealed that the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) has allocated PHP268 million for indemnification to 45,980 insured farmers across the country. Indemnities to insured farmers in areas affected by STS Crising will begin distribution next week.
As of Wednesday, agriculture losses increased to 10,595 metric tons worth PHP323.15 million, an increase from 6,643 metric tons amounting to PHP217.5 million on Tuesday, as reported by the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Operations Center. At least 14,772 farmers and fishers have been affected.
The rice sector recorded the highest damage with approximately 6,703 metric tons in losses worth PHP212.60 million, impacting at least 14,842 hectares of rice lands. De Mesa noted that this volume remains within the annual average rice loss of 500,000 to 600,000 metric tons.
Damage was also reported in high-value crops, including lowland and upland vegetables, spices, legumes, watermelon, banana, pineapple, papaya, and root crops, totaling PHP82.63 million. Corn production saw losses of PHP22.13 million. In the livestock and poultry sectors, 965 heads of chicken, swine, cattle, carabao, goat, duck, sheep, turkey, and guinea fowl were affected, amounting to PHP5.33 million. Fisheries reported PHP44,950 in losses, affecting 10 fishers, and included tilapia and milkfish fingerlings, motorized boats, and fishpond dikes. Cassava losses were reported at PHP353,080, while damage to infrastructures, machinery, and equipment was valued at PHP60,000.
