DA initially places 'Nona' damage in E. Visayas at PHP92.57M

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PNA) – The farming sector in eastern Visayas suffered PHP92.57 million production losses due to typhoon "Nona", the Department of Agriculture regional office here reported.

Of the total, PHP3.57 million losses were recorded in Biliran province, PHP5.47 million in Samar, PHP29.99 million in Eastern Samar, PHP53.51 million in Northern Samar. The typhoon has affected 3,642 farmers in four provinces.

Rice farmers bore the brunt of Nona’s wrath suffering PHP52 million losses, based on initial estimates. Another badly affected commodity is banana with PHP16.39 output losses.

Other crops that sustained damages are cassava (PHP4.36 million), vegetables (PHP2.04 million), corn (PHP22,791), root crops (PHP10,938), fruit trees (PHP166,470). Fishery and livestock sectors suffered PHP4.15 million and PHP13.4 million losses, respectively.

The typhoon directly affected 2,679 hectares of farms. For rice alone, harvest losses are pegged at 3,060 metric tons.

“We are committed to assist farmers. The DA regional field offices have prepositioned seed stocks to cope up with damages wrought by calamities so that our farmers could easily recover their losses at the shortest possible time,” said DA Regional Executive Director Leo Cañeda.

The DA reminded affected farmers to get proper certifications from their respective local agriculture offices in order for them to avail of the free seeds. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano