By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Nov. 18 (PNA) — The Dept. of Agriculture (DA) on Monday reported that the agriculture damage acquired from typhoon ‘Yolanda’ has so far reached P9. 089 billion.
Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (BAS) Director Romeo Recide told the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food Monday that this data was recorded up to the end of Nov. 14 and that more reports were coming in.
Of the P9.089 billion, P7.7 billion came from losses on various commodities such as crops and fisheries while for rice alone, losses amounted to P2.4 billion.
A total of P1 billion was lost from fisheries, P2.1 billion from livestock, P226 million from corn, P600 million from cassava, coconut, banana, mango and other crops.
In infrastructure, a total of P1.346 billion worth was damaged. These included infrastructure in irrigation at P 212 million, infrastructure in fisheries at P333.7 million and damage in other facilities and equipment at P800 million.
Agriculture Asec. Dante Delima meanwhile said that the DA will soon be carrying out immediate rehabilitation plans in areas affected by the typhoon.
He said that the DA will prioritize producing crops as soon as possible. Within three to four months, Delima said that production should already be available to residents.
The fisheries sector, which will be provided with 1, 300 fishing boats equipped with 5-horse power engines, 4, 000 fishing nets, 200 payao (floating artificial reefs) for municipal fishermen.
Meanwhile, the National Food Authority (NFA) also announced that the cost of looted rice bags and damaged rice warehouses after the onslaught of ‘Yolanda’ reached P809 million.
NFA Administrator, Orlan Calayag said during the hearing that one warehouse contained about 120 thousand rice bags.
Six rice warehouses in Region 8 were reported severely damaged while warehouses in Region 6 obtained mild damages, Calayag noted. (PNA)