A drone shot of rice fields submerged in flood waters following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) on Oct. 23, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Naga City Government)
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture has ensured P1 billion worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF), together with various other forms of assistance, for the rehabilitation and recovery of farms across the country that were heavily affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami).
The DA said on Nov. 4 that in addition to the QRF, it is also providing P541.02 million worth of agricultural inputs consisting of rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, as well as drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry to be distributed by its Regional Field Offices (RFOs) in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) and Regions III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VIII, XII, and XII.
It also has prepared P500 million for the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program through its Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with up to P25,000 loanable amount per farmer, payable in three years at zero interest.
Meanwhile, a total of 5,292 bags of rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA), which is also under the DA, have been issued to local government units (LGUs) in Regions I and V for distribution to the affected.
Earlier, the DA announced that the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), another attached office of the department, is releasing at least P666.7 million for the indemnification of 86,066 farmers whose PCIC-insured farms were damaged by the storm.
KADIWA stores have also been deployed to affected areas to help ensure people’s access to goods, especially food products, at affordable prices.
The department said that based on the assessment of its RFOs in CAR, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga Region, damage and losses have been reported in rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock & poultry, fisheries, machinery and equipment, and agricultural infrastructures amounting to P6.2 billion.
The storm affected 143,065 farmers and fisherfolk, with 117,509 hectares of agricultural areas and a volume of production loss of 283,528 metric tons (MT).
The department noted that the volume of production losses from the affected agricultural areas is 239,302 MT for palay, 3,392 MT for corn, 2,125 MT for cassava, and 36,928 MT for high-value crops. In addition, the volume of production losses for fisheries is 1,781 MT.
The DA said it is continuously working with concerned LGUs and other related offices to address the impact of Kristine and to utilize available resources for assistance to the affected farmers and fisherfolk. (PIA DMD)
