MANILA, Philippines — The effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon rains or “habagat” has left at least 4.73 billion worth of agricultural damage in the country, the Department of Agriculture said.
In its final bulletin, the DA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DA-DRRM) Operations Center reported that about 137,999 farmers and fishers were impacted across the Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, and Caraga regions.
The most severe damage was reported as follows:
- P1.64 billion in irrigation facilities
- P1.08 billion in rice production losses (18,629 metric tons)
- P783.96 million in fisheries (8,395 fishers affected)
- P691.62 million in high-value crops losses (19,969 metric tons)
- P469.45 million in corn production losses (18,170 metric tons)
- P38.26 million in livestock and poultry losses (25,855 heads)
- P12 million in cassava production losses (472 metric tons)
- P4.44 million in agricultural infrastructure
- P4.01 million in machinery and equipment
The DA said that its regional field offices, along with local government units and DRRM offices, are actively working together to assess and validate the impact of the Southwest Monsoon and Typhoon Carina on the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
“Best possible efforts are also being undertaken to carry out assistance and appropriate interventions to the affected farmers and fisherfolk,” it said.
Among the assistance provided to affected Filipinos by the national government included:
- 64,404 bags of rice seeds and 45,307 bags of corn seeds, valued at P301.72 million
- 1,300 kg, 63,124 packs, and 370 cans of vegetable seeds, worth P17.63 million
- P6.31 million for pest control measures
Fishermen will also receive fingerlings, fishing gears and paraphernalia from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that the death toll from Super Typhoon Carina, the southwest monsoon, and Tropical Cyclone Butchoy has reached 39. Out of these, 14 deaths have been confirmed, while 25 are still being verified. The number of people affected has risen to 4.8 million. Additionally, six people are still missing, and nine others have been injured.
