TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reported damage and losses caused by the Shearline, ITCZ, LPA, and Northeast Monsoon in multiple regions across the Philippines. According to Bulletin No. 5, issued on January 16, assessments conducted by the DA's Regional Field Offices (RFOs) revealed that the total damage is estimated at PhP 746.5 million, affecting 36,307 farmers.
The affected regions include MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga. The damage includes a volume of production loss of 14,158 metric tons and 41,721 agricultural areas.
The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, and poultry. However, these values are still subject to validation.
In response to the damage caused by the weather disturbances, the DA, through its RFOs, is monitoring the effects and conducting assessments of the damage and losses brought to the agri-fisheries sector. The DA is also coordinating with concerned National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), and other Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) related offices to determine the impact of the weather disturbances and to gather resources for interventions and assistance.
To aid affected farmers, the DA has made the following assistance available for distribution: rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council's (ACPC) Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program with a loanable amount of up to PhP 25,000, payable in three years at zero interest, and Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.
The DA-DRRM Operations Center will continue to provide updates regarding the Shearline, ITCZ, LPA, and Northeast Monsoon. For inquiries, the public may contact (02) 8929-0140. The Department of Agriculture urges all affected farmers to take advantage of the available assistance to help them recover from the damage caused by the weather disturbances.