Pangasinan worst hit

STORM DAMAGE TO AGRI,

FISHERIES NOW AT P1.12-B

By DA DRRMC

As of 12:00 NN today, the damages and losses to the agriculture sector caused by Tropical Storm “Henry”, Severe Tropical Storm “Inday” and Tropical Depression “Josie” has increased to P 1.12 billion affecting rice, corn, high value crops, livestock and fisheries. These values are subject to validation.

The increase in the overall damages and losses is attributed to reports on rice, corn, high value crops and fisheries in all the provinces of Region III and Oriental Mindoro.

RICE

Rice contribute to most of the total damages and losses at 83% with an amount of P925.99 million, area affected of 30,274 hectares of rice paddies in the provinces of Pangasinan, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, Negros Occidental and Aklan affecting 37,927 farmers and an estimated volume production loss of 12,111 metric tons. Damaged/washed out palay used for seedbeds now amounts to a total of 5,137 bags.

Region III is now the most affected region in terms of damages and losses in rice, which amount to P569.83 million (62%) with Tarlac as the most affected province at P362.46 million (39%). The increase in the reported damages and losses is attributed from the reports from all the provinces of Region III and Oriental Mindoro.

CORN

Meanwhile, production loss in corn now amounts to P1.47 million, affecting a total of 167 hectares of corn fields in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga with an estimated production volume loss of 93 metric tons.

The increase in values comes from the reports from the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Pampanga.

HIGH VALUE CROPS

As for this commodity, damages and losses have reached P18.66 million with a total of 116 hectares of assorted vegetables affected and volume of production loss at 594 metric tons.

The increase in the reported damages and losses is attributed to the reports from the province of Nueva Ecija.

LIVESTOCK

The amount of losses in livestock still remains at P700,000 with a total of 14 animal heads (13 cattle and 1 carabao) affected in the Province of Pangasinan.

FISHERIES

On the other hand, fisheries contributed 2nd to the overall damages and losses with an amount of P172.46 million (15%) affecting 1,055 fisherfolk in CAR, Regions II, III and CaLaBaRZon. These include produce and facilities such as fishing gears and paraphernalia.

The increase in reported damages and losses comes from reports in the province of Bulacan.

The Regional Field Offices of the Department are now conducting field validation to determine the extent of damages and losses brought by the three (3) weather disturbances, as well as the needs of the affected farmers and fisherfolk.

(Drone photos submitted by the Office of DA Field Operations)