The Department of Agriculture (DA) is carrying out more measures to protect consumers from possible food supply shortfalls in the aftermath of tropical storm “Ondoy,” which battered farms all over Luzon last week.

Agriculture Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Bernie Fondevilla said the DA will undertake market intervention programs through the National Food Authority, Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) and Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), involving five commodities: pork, chicken, vegetables, tilapia and bangus.

“Morever, the DA has committed patrol boats of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to the Coast Guard and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) as part of the department’s contributions to the ongoing massive government efforts to help ‘Ondoy’ victims in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon,” Fondevilla said.

As part of the DA’s relief package for “Ondoy” victims, the DA is distributing short-gestation seeds to thousands of palay farmers affected by the typhoon.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said earlier this week that the farmer-beneficiaries will be using the direct or broadcast method of planting these seeds. They are expected to harvest their crops by December.

At the same time, Yap directed the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to work double time in settling claims made by farmers, which could reach a total of R95 million in four regions in Luzon devastated by “Ondoy.”

The affected farmers in the Central Luzon alone number about 20,000, Yap said, and “the DA is preparing short-gestation seeds for distribution, so farmers can immediately plant and still harvest the palay by Dec. 31, 2009, using direct or broadcasting seeding method.”

Yap said the projected crop damages could fall below the preliminary estimates because a portion of the affected crops are ready for harvest and could still be recovered through proper drying with the help of the government’s post-harvest facilities in the region.

In a report to Yap, PCIC executive director Jovy Bernabe said projected crop insurance indemnities due to “Ondoy” could reach R95 million, broken down as follows: Ilocos Region, P6 million; Cagayan Valley, P5 million; Central Luzon, P40 million; Calabarzon and Mimaropa, P28 million; and Bicol, P16 million.

Bernabe said upon Yap’s instructions, the PCIC is “going full blast in processing and adjusting claims so that we can settle them as soon as possible and will coordinate with the Office of the Secretary for the giving of checks.”