ILOILO City – Typhoon “Quinta” left P132.63 million worth of damage to rice, high-value commercial crops (HVCC) and the fishery sector in the provinces of Western Visayas.
Department of Agriculture (DA) regional executive director Remelyn Recoter said they are still validating the report on the peso equivalent of the damage to the sector.
“This is still a progress report,” she said, adding they hope to complete the validation process within the week.
Recoter said the damage to the palay plantation in Iloilo was valued at P48.1 million; Antique at P45 million; Capiz, P30 million; and Aklan, P1.2 million.
Recoter said the damaged palay was in varying stages. The palay of those who planted early during the wet season and were able to plant again were on their seedling and vegetative stages, while reproductive and maturity stages for late planters.
Damaged HVCCs were valued at P875,000, she said adding the products were ready for harvest.
Recoter said as the usual support, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has buffer stocks for seeds, while the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) will indemnify insured plantation.
The DA has around 10,000 bags of certified seeds, 3,000 bags of hybrid seeds, and 800 bags of registered seeds.
The total affected plantation is 9,365 hectares with 7,509 farmers.
“Since the distribution of seeds and fertilizer under the Rice Resiliency Project 2 (RRP2) is still ongoing, then they can also avail themselves of them,” she added.
Recoter said almost 80 percent of palay were harvested before “Quinta” so they were spared from its wrath.
She said the damaged palay will not affect the region’s target production this year because the volume was only 3,698 metric tons.
“Most are on seedling and vegetative stage, most of the computation was on the cost of input and labor. Whereas if they are on the productive and maturity stage, then definitely the expected harvest will be lost in those areas,” she added.
Recoter urged farmers to report the damage to their respective agriculturists so they will be included in the report and the master list for rehabilitation assistance and crop insurance.
Meanwhile, a report by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR) to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) valued the typhoon damage to the fishery sector at PHP8.38 million, affecting 159 fisherfolk.
For the aquaculture, the damage to fishpond and fish stocks was estimated at P7.66 million.
For the capture fisheries sector, BFAR reported damage to fishing boats and gear valued at P728,649.
Recoter said as of Tuesday, they have not received a report on the damage brought about by super typhoon “Rolly”, whose path was almost similar to the track of “Quinta”. (PNA/PN)
