Agri sector loses P265M to ‘Ursula’

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo and Gerome Dalipe

Typhoon Ursula damaged more than P200 million worth of crops in Western Visayas, according to Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 6.

As of Jan 3, 2019, DA-RFO 6 reported that the region lost P265,152,885.26 in crops, livestock and poultry, and infrastructures in the aftermath of Typhoon Ursula.

The rice sector suffered the biggest blow at P156 million, affecting 21, 026 farmers in the region.

The typhoon also damaged P15 million worth of corn crops and P17 million worth of vegetables.

Even the livestock and poultry industry of the region was not spared by the typhoon as it also lost P34 million worth of swine, goats, chicken and cattle.

DA-RFO 6 also reported that P41.98 million worth of infrastructures were damaged by the typhoon, particularly the Breeding Center and DA RFO 6 Outreach Station both in Capiz and the Rice Processing Center in Aklan.

Meanwhile, records from the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) indicated that P104 million worth of agricultural products in Iloilo were lost when Ursula struck on Dec 25, 2019.

Dr. Jerry Bionat, PDRRMO chief, said that about 459.8 hectares of rice area in Ajuy town and 443 hectares in Estancia town were affected by the typhoon.

The damages to the above municipalities reached P61-million in rice crops.

On the other hand, about 223 hectares of corn worth about P34-million were damaged by the storm.

Likewise, the storm also ravaged 87 heads of livestock and 2, 138 of poultry supplies, with estimated damage of about P1.1-million.

Some 97 fishing boats were also damaged, the risk reduction and management office reported. About a hectare of fishpond in Ajuy town was also damaged. Fish corral and seaweed worth P300,000 and P1.5-million, respectively, were also damaged by the storm.

The agriculture department said that assessment and validation of the agriculture damage in the region is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, DA-RFO 6 has coordinated with Philippine Crop Insurance Cooperation regarding the damaged areas and indemnification losses of affected farmers.

Corn seeds from Quick Response Fund and rice seeds thru the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) are being programmed to be distributed to the affected farmers, the DA-RFO 6 said.

Based on its situation report issued on January 3, Typhoon Ursula has affected 263,400 families composed of more than one million individuals in the region, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Western Visayas.

Three provinces, one city and 12 municipalities in the region have declared a state of calamity, RDRRMC added.

Recently, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 6 underscored the need of the region to focus on agriculture and fisheries following the sluggish growth of the agriculture sector in 2018.

Based on the report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Statistical Services Office 6, the economy of Western Visayas posted a growth of 6.1 percent in 2018.

The Agriculture Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF) sector dropped from 8.8 percent in 2017 to negative 1.4 percent in 2018.

During the first quarter of 2019, the agriculture sector in the region also suffered losses due to El Niño.

Meanwhile, the Jaro Archdiocesan Youth Commission (JAYC) has launched a donation drive “Call for Donations” to help the victims of the storm, especially in northern Iloilo.

Fr. Mark Lester Senina, Chairman of the Commission on Youth of the Archdiocese of Jaro, the primary aim of the Call for Donations is to help children who will return to school in January.

The JAYC advised benefactors to send donations in kind to the Immaculate Conception Parish in Tanza, Iloilo City.