‘Odette’ damage to agriculture pegged at P8B
By Joshua Solano
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, reported that damage and losses caused by Typhoon Odette to agriculture has reached P8 billion.
The agriculture department said 171,222 metric tons of production volume and 341,280 hectares of agricultural areas were hit by “Odette,” which affected 113,479 farmers and fisherfolk.
Regions badly hit by the typhoon were Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga.
The DA said affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, coconut, sugarcane, livestock and fisheries. Damage also incurred in agricultural infrastructures, pieces of machinery and equipment.
The agency said it has coordinated with non-government agencies, local government units and disaster risk reduction management offices for intervention and assistance.
Interventions include P1 billion worth of quick response fund for rehabilitation of affected areas; P828 million from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to indemnify affected farmers; and P500 million under the Survival and Recovery Assistance Program of the Agriculture Credit Policy Council for 20,000 farmers and fisherfolk at P25,000 each.
Other interventions include P314 million worth of rice seeds, P129 million worth of corn seeds, P57 million worth of assorted vegetables, P47 million worth of assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to affected fisherfolk, and P6.6 million worth of animal stock drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry.
Those affected could also tap funds from the Philippine Coconut Authority.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed affected regions under a state of calamity to fast track relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector.
Typhoon Odette, one of the strongest storms in the Philippines in 2021, ravaged parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao from December 16 to 18.
According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, as of December 29, a total of 397 individuals died due to “Odette,” while 83 were missing and 1,147 were injured.
