The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Sunday said damage to the
agriculture sector caused by Typhoon “Ulysses” has climbed to P2.107
billion.

On Saturday, the DA placed the damage to agriculture at P1.17 billion.

Of the P2.107 billion, P890 million or 67,805 MT was attributed to rice;
P585 million to fisheries; P513 million or 24,588 MT to high-value crops;
and P109 million or 4,827 MT to corn.

Furthermore, damage to livestock and irrigation and other agri-
facilities reached P8.6 million and P584,000, respectively.

Despite rice crops sustaining the biggest damage from Ulysses, Agriculture
Secretary William Dar assured the country has enough rice for up to 94
days.

“So, 85 days to 94 days nandiyan pa rin iyong imbentaryo natin. Meron
tayong sapat na bigas dito sa bansa (The inventory is there. The country has enough rice),” he said during a during televised Laging Handa briefing.

The DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations
Center said the typhoon affected 62,533 farmers and 58,320 hectares
of farming enclaves in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region,
Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Bicol Region.

“Affected DA Regional Field Offices are continuously conducting Rapid
Damage and Needs Assessment (RDANA) to assess and validate damage
and losses in the agriculture and fisheries sector,” the DA said.

The farmers affected by Ulysses can also avail of Agricultural Credit Policy
Council’s Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program and
indemnification fund from Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

PCIC has already set aside P1.01 billion to imdenifty farmers affected by
Typhoon “Quinta” and Super Typhoon “Rolly.” CURRENTPH