Combined damage and losses to local agriculture from the southwest monsoon and recent tropical cyclones have surged to P1.84 billion, affecting nearly 60,000 farmers and fisherfolk.

In its latest bulletin on Sunday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that 43,689 metric tons of production were lost across 55,181 hectares of agricultural land due to the impact of Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, compounded by monsoon rains. 

The affected regions include the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western and Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the National Capital Region.

Losses were recorded across rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, fisheries, and agricultural infrastructure. The figures, however, remain subject to further validation.

“The DA is ensuring that the following assistance are available,” the agency said, citing a range of interventions including P653.01 million worth of agricultural inputs from regional field offices and 43,940 bags of rice from the National Food Authority for local distribution.

The agency also released P400 million under the Survival and Recovery Loan Program, which offers up to P25,000 in zero-interest loans, and an initial P268 million for indemnification of 45,980 insured farmers through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

Field validation and needs assessments are ongoing, while the DA is closely coordinating with national and local government agencies to address flooding, road obstructions, and price movement of agricultural commodities. 

A price ceiling is in place for affected areas under a state of calamity, as mandated by Republic Act 7581 or “The Price Act.”