The Department of Agriculture on Saturday reported that damages to agri-products now reached the P1-billion mark.
On its Bulletin No. 7 issued at 2:00 p.m. on 29 July 2023, the DA said the damage and losses brought by “Egay” have increased from P512.9 million to P1.36 billion with a volume of production loss of 62,259 metric tons, affecting 98,969 hectares of agricultural land and 91,268 farmers.
The increase is due to the updated reports from Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Central Luzon.
The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and fisheries. Damage was also incurred in agricultural facilities and fishing paraphernalia.
The following assistance is available for distribution to affected farmers and fishers:
- A total of 111,873 bags of rice seeds, 14,426 bags of corn, and 2,582 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds from the regions affected by “Egay” (CAR, Regions I II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, VI, and XIII);
- Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; fingerlings assistance to affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR);
- Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with a loanable amount of up to PhP 25,000 payable in three years at zero interest; and
- Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.