P362M in farm, fishery losses due to ‘Odette’
DAMAGE to agriculture caused by Typhoon Odette (Rai) in the country has soared past P360 million so far, even while damage assessment continues in the regions.
The Department of Agriculture said 23,438 hectares of agricultural areas in the country had been affected by Odette, causing 20,319 metric tons of lost production valued at P362.3 million as of Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.
This was for damage and losses reported in the regions of Calabarzon and Bicol in Luzon; Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas; and Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Mindanao, Davao and Caraga in Mindanao.
The commodities affected were rice, corn, high -value crops and fisheries, the DA said in its 5 p.m. Dec. 20 bulletin.
The DA committed to provide at least P1.35 billion worth of assistance to affected farmers and fishermen, the bulk of which would involve a P1 billion Quick Response Fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas.
The rest of the assistance would include P148 million worth of rice seeds, P57.6 million worth of corn seeds, P44.6 million worth of vegetables, P1.64 million worth of fingerlings and assistance to affected fisherfolk from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, as well as P625,150 worth of drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry, and funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. to indemnify affected farmers.
Odette slammed into Cebu on Thursday, Dec. 16, bearing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 240 km/hr.
As of early Monday, the Philippine National Police reported, 208 people in the Visayas and Mindanao had been killed by Odette’s might, while 52 others were still missing. (CTL)
