Agricultural damage from the combined onslaught of the Southwest Monsoon and tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong has ballooned to P1.12 billion from P454.12 million reported yesterday, displacing over 45,000 farmers and fisherfolk across 12 regions.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Friday that losses surged as floodwaters and strong winds ravaged 43,741 hectares of farmland, wiping out an estimated 26,566 metric tons of rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock, and fisheries. The figures are expected to climb further as field assessments continue.

In response, the DA has mobilized over P1.3 billion in aid, including farm inputs, rice stock, loans, and insurance.

“The Department of Agriculture is ensuring that appropriate interventions are available,” the agency said.

Some P653 million worth of seeds, seedlings, pesticides, livestock, and fingerlings have already been distributed through DA regional offices, while 43,940 bags of rice have been released by the National Food Authority to hard-hit areas.

To support recovery, P400 million has been made available under the Survival and Recovery Loan Program, offering loans of up to P25,000 at zero interest, payable over a three-year period.

Another P268 million has been set aside to indemnify nearly 46,000 affected, insured farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

The DA said regional offices continue to validate field reports, coordinate with disaster and local authorities, and monitor commodity prices to prevent further disruptions.

Price ceilings on key agricultural goods are also in place in calamity-hit areas, in accordance with Republic Act 7581, also known as the Price Act.