Damage in agriculture and fisheries as a result of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” is now worth P5.4 billion, up from the previous estimate of P3.6 billion.

This is based on an October 2 situationer report by the Department of Agriculture (DA) which gave that estimate on damage wrought by Ondoy in agriculture and fisheries in Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 4A (Calabarzon), 4B (Mimaropa), 5 (Bicol Region), 9 (Zamboanga del Sur), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

DA said damage to the rice sector has the biggest share with P4.2 billion, followed by irrigation facilities at P18.6 million.

Likewise, production losses for other commodities include fisheries (P128 million), high value commercial crops (HVCC) (P127 million), corn (P64 million), and livestock/poultry (P41 million).

Damaged facilities in the livestock/poultry sector is worth P1.3 million, and P189,000 in the fisheries sector.

DA said 168,065 hectares of rice fields in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, and 9 were affected by Ondoy.

Of the 168,065 hectares, 25,592 hectares were completely damaged, while 142,473 hectares have chances of recovery.

It said 243,898 metric tons (MT) of palay from standing crops in the reproductive/ maturity stage were lost.

DA said that from the P4.2 billion total loss, P4.1 billion was from the value of lost palay, and P68 million from the cost of farmers’ investment.

For corn in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4B, and 5, DA said 2,873 hectares were affected, with 639 hectares totally damaged, and 2,234 hectares recoverable.

DA said deemed lost from the typhoon was 2,888 MT grains.

The value of loss is worth P64 million, of which P37 million was from lost harvest, and P26 million cost of inputs invested by farmers.

For HVCC in CAR, DA said 1,863 hectares were affected resulting in a loss of 14,546 MT of HVCC (11,465 MT vegetables, 371 MT mango, 94 MT banana, and 2,616 MT papaya) worth P127 million.

Meanwhile, in the fisheries sector in Region 3, affected were 5,905 hectares of fishponds with milkfish/tilapia/prawn resulting in a loss to the sector valued at P127.5 million.

For livestock/poultry in Regions 3 and 4A, a total of P41 million was lost as 12,530 heads of livestock (cattle, carabaos, horse, swine, and sheep), and 84,221 heads of poultry either died or were lost.

DA explained that the lost harvest has risen to 243,898 MT of palay, which is 3.76 percent of the national target of 6,478,960 MT for harvest for the fourth quarter.

The report said such losses in both agriculture and fisheries reduced regional targets to as follows: Region 3 – 188,764 MT (11.74 percent), Region 4A – 25,755 MT (16.57 percent), Region 4B – 16,832 MT (3.94 percent), Region 5 – 1,742 MT (0.67 percent), Region 1 – 7,703 MT (0.01 percent), and Region 9 – 22 MT (0.01 percent).

DA Undersecretary for Operations Jesus Emmanuel Paras already met with concerned DA officials and spearheaded the preparation of rehabilitation plans and the conduct of intermediate interventions using available resources.