The Department of Agriculture reported that Typhoon Bising caused at least P45.93 million worth of damage to the crops sector.
According to the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DRRM-OpCen), the total damage and losses brought by Bising in the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas affected 765 farmers with 1,599 hectares of agricultural areas and volume of production loss at 3,009 metric tons.
“Affected commodities include rice, corn, assorted vegetables & fruits and livestock,” the DA-DRMM-OpCen said.
However, the figures are still subject to validation.
DA said that despite the damage and losses, farmers were able to harvest a total area of 14,589 hectares of rice Regions V, VIII and XIII with an equivalent production of 59,543 metric tons amounting to P1.08 billion.
Meanwhile, the DA-DRRM-OpCen said a total of 534 hectares of corn fields have been harvested from Region V and VIII with an equivalent production of 1,411 metric tons amounting to P18.20 million.
The Department of Agriculture said the following assistance are available to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the typhoon Bising:
- Rice seeds (18,478 bags), corn seeds (12,530 bags) and assorted vegetable seeds (1,640 kgs) from Regions II, IV-A, V, VIII, and XIII
- Drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs
- Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC)
- Available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers
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Bising caused P45.93M damage to agriculture: DA
“The DA-DRRM Operations Center will continuously provide updates regarding TY “Bising,” it said.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal number 2 was raised over Isabela, Aurora and Cagayan as Typhoon Bising maintains its strength as it moves slowly north-northwestward east of Aurora.
At 4:00 PM today, the center of the eye of Typhoon Bising was located based on all available data at 475 km East of Baler, Aurora.
It is moving north-northwestward slowly with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 215 km/h.
Today (20 April), light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Camarines Provinces, Catanduanes, and the eastern portion of Quezon due to Typhoon Bising.