DA readies over P80-M agri aid in 'Kristine'-hit areas
2024-Oct-25 10:29
FLOODED RICE FIELDS. A drone shot of rice fields submerged in flood following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) in Camarines Sur on Wednesday (Oct. 23, 2024). The Department of Agriculture has recorded P80.80 million worth of damage to agriculture in four regions, affecting 2,864 farmers. (PNA/Naga City Government)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DA-DRRM) Operations Center on Thursday prepositioned P80.21 million worth of agricultural aid to farmers in areas affected during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).
The amount aims to cover the distribution of agricultural inputs including seedlings of rice, corn, high-value crops, drugs, and biologics.
Besides this, farmers can also avail of the P25,000 loanable amount payable for three years with zero interest, as well as the indemnification for insured farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Industry (PCIC).
In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said partial reports of agricultural damage are being validated to ensure the mobilization of aid for immediate recovery.
"For now, we have to wait for the actual report to ascertain the damage and the interventions that we need to do to help our farmers and fisherfolk recover quickly from this calamity," he said.
As of Thursday, the DA-DRRM said at least 2,864 farmers were affected in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Mimaropa, Bicol, and Western Visayas.
Agricultural damage also rose to P80.80 million from almost P10 million on Wednesday.
Majority of the damage was recorded in the rice sector, amounting to P79.34 million in Kalinga, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Negros Occidental.
Damage in corn production followed at P1.34 million in Camarines Sur, Marinduque, and Masbate; P106,990 in high-value crops in Oriental Mindoro; and P11,400 in livestock and poultry in Marinduque. (PNA)