Mary Grace Padin & Rene Acosta
The volume of crops damaged by Typhoon Lando (international code name Koppu) has reached 510,438 metric tons (MT), valued at P8.62 billion as of October 23, according to the latest report from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Based on the DA’s damage report on Lando, a total of 356,598 hectares of farmlands in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were affected by the typhoon, with 93.48 percent, or 333,357 hectares, having a chance of recovery.
The rice sector suffered the most damage, registering a total production loss of 463,692 MT pegged at P7.09 billion. Rice farms in Region 3 were severely devastated, losing 393,440 MT of crops valued at almost P6 billion in terms of production loss.
Farmers of high-value crops lost 36,373 MT with a value of P1.35 billion due to the typhoon. This caused prices of vegetables in Metro Manila markets to spike up, according to the DA’s daily price monitoring.
About 10,374 MT of crops with a total value of P146.50 million were damaged in the corn sector, while the fisheries and livestock sector suffered P20.96 million and P8.74 million in revenue losses, respectively.
Region 3 took the brunt of the damage, registering a total of P6.73 billion worth of crops lost.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said during a media briefing recently that the DA has allotted its quick-response fund for the management and recovery of the damage caused by Lando.
He said 62,000 bags of certified seeds are being distributed to farmers with damaged crops, and an additional 30,000 bags of certified seeds are set to be procured by the DA.
Farmers listed in the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Registry System on Basic Sectors in Agriculture will also be provided with crop insurance, he said.
Meanwhile, the National Food Authority (NFA) said it has already released 24,889 bags of rice to local government units and relief agencies as of October 19 for distribution to the families in the affected areas. The NFA has requested for supplemental budget so it can procure damaged palay crops from farmers.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has also committed to assist the DA in its disaster-relief efforts, Alcala said. He added that the Philippines can also request additional rice stocks from the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve if necessary. Counting the effects to infrastructure, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said total damage would already exceed P9 billion.
The NDRRMC expects the estimated value of damage will further increase once it completes its rapid assessment of areas hit by the typhoon in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A and CAR.
Among the public projects that were damaged were 751 schools. The NDRRMC said at least 26,124 houses were also destroyed.
Lando affected a total of 295,835 families, or 1,407,805 individuals, with 108,688 persons still housed in government-run shelters.
Flooding was reported in 479 towns and municipalities in the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Cagayan and Benguet.
While power has been restored in most of the areas battered by the typhoon, at least five cities and 52 municipalities were still experiencing power outages.
The NDRRMC said its death toll count has also increased to 46, while 82 persons were injured.