The Department of Agriculture (DA) has prepared PHP164.27 million worth of agricultural inputs to be distributed in affected areas following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Julian. According to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center late Thursday, available interventions include the pre-position of agricultural inputs such as rice, corn, and vegetable seeds. 'Up to PHP25,000 loanable amount from the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), payable in three years at zero interest; and Indemnification of insured affected farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), are also available,' it added. To date, 20,134 farmers have been affected in Central Luzon and the Cagayan and Ilocos regions. Damage to crops was placed at 19,151 metric tons (MT) amounting to PHP481.27 million, with the rice sector incurring the highest at 17,585 MT worth PHP348.42 million. Ilocos Norte was considered the hardest-hit area. The cost of damage to irrigation facilities in Cagayan, Isabela, and Ilocos Norte followed amounting to PHP92.68 million; corn industry at PHP35.75 million; high-value crops at PHP3.96 million; and livestock and poultry at PHP472,550. The DA-DRRM said validation and assessment are ongoing as reports arrive from other regional offices. Source: Philippines News Agency