”Ambo” farm damage reached P1.37 billion: DA

May 27, 2020

The Department Agriculture (DA) has recorded a total of P1.37 billion of damage due to ''Ambo''.

"After thorough field assessment and validation by DA Regional Field Offices in Ambo-affected areas, the final amount of damage and losses from the typhoon is P 1.37 billion with volume of production loss at 66,760 metric tons, which affected 27,472 hectares of agricultural areas, and 70.533 farmers and fisherfolk," the DA said Tuesday.

"The said values include validated and finalized reports from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions," it added.

According to DA, high value crops are the most affected commodity by Ambo at "67 percent (P915.15 million) that include banana (P541.97 million), papaya (P24.26 million) and other assorted fruits and vegetables (P348.92 million).

"This was followed by rice at 23 percent  (P318.13  million), corn at 5 percent (P62.45 million), fisheries at 3 percent (P42.40 million), livestock at 1 percent (P 17.94  million) and infrastructure at 1 percent (P10.80 million)," it stated.

To help farmers and fisherfolk affected by “Ambo”, the Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary William Dar assured that "the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) has enough funds to indemnify the 15,756 insured farmers and fisherfolk in regions affected by weather disturbance."

Dar said the "Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), under its Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Assistance program, has allotted P20 million for emergency loan, at zero interest, payable in three years, to affected farmers and fishers, at P25,000 each."

"Rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds have also been distributed to farmers who will opt to replant once conditions permit," he said.

"The RFOs have crafted their respective rehabilitation and recovery plans for typhoon-affected areas for processing under the Quick Response Fund (QRF) and finalization this week," Dar said.

"Quick Response Fund (QRF) worth P750 million has been made available for downloading to affected Regional Field Offices for the rehabilitation of their affected areas," he added. Robina Asido/DMS