Typhoons-inflicted damage to agriculture in 2019 hit P 16B

The agricultural damage inflicted by typhoons that hit the country in 2019 has reached P16 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

This was 53 percent lower than the losses the sector incurred due to typhoons in 2018.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a press conference on Friday that the steep decline could be attributed to the agency’s constant monitoring of natural disasters, which enabled officials to advise farmers and fisherfolk to take the necessary steps to cut possible losses.

Dar added that the agency was able to save P12 billion worth of crops from destruction or damage given early warning announcements.

In 2018, the sector incurred P34.45 billion in losses from typhoons and droughts. During the period, there were 20 typhoons that entered the country.

Typhoon “Ursula,” the last typhoon to hit the country in 2019, destroyed crops and facilities especially in the regions of Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

To date, the amount of damage and losses brought by Ursula was estimated to have reached P3.05 billion, P1.58 billion of which was incurred by the fisheries sector.

The volume of production loss on rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and fisheries was placed at 39,461 metric tons, affecting 30,705 hectares and 84,306 farmers and fish­erfolk.The DA said it had already prepared assistance packages for those who were affected.

Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., for its part, said it was ready to pay for the indemnity of all insured.