Department of Agriculture rolls out aid after Typhoons Tino, Uwan

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Saturday said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has mobilized emergency aid and farm inputs to help farmers and fisherfolk swiftly recover from the two tropical cyclones that struck the country just days apart, leaving a trail of damage across key agricultural areas.

Tiu Laurel said the damage sustained by the sector from Typhoons Tino and Uwan could reach a couple of billion pesos, with the destruction wrought by Super Typhoon Uwan in abaca, coconut, and fishery in Catanduanes alone likely around P1 billion.

“For abaca alone, the damage in Catanduanes is nearly P700 million. Coconut plantations were almost wiped out — it’s not good. We’re still assessing; these are preliminary figures, but I would assume that the total impact of both storms could reach P1 billion to P2 billion,” Tiu Laurel said.

He accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the chief executive’s visit to Catanduanes on Thursday to fully grasp the situation in the island province, which first bore the brunt of Uwan’s wrath.

But the DA chief assured that the agency has prepared post-typhoon assistance, including low-interest recovery loans, insurance indemnification, financial and fuel aid, and inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, fingerlings, boats, and fishing gear, to help food producers recover quickly from the calamity.

“We have already deployed these assistance packages and inputs. We’re just waiting for the floods to recede and debris to be cleared so that those who can may immediately replant. Our crop insurance and credit groups are also in the field to provide funds so that farmers and fisherfolk can restart their livelihoods as soon as possible,” he said.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) has earmarked P251 million to compensate insured farmers for losses caused by Typhoon Tino and is now assessing damages from Uwan to provide for claims.

The DA has also activated its Quick Response Fund and Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program to support affected farmers and fisherfolk. The SURE program offers a low-interest, five-year loan of up to P25,000, while the Department of Budget and Management has released P1 billion to replenish the DA’s QRF.

Despite the impact of Uwan on rice-producing provinces such as Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and La Union, Secretary Tiu Laurel said the country will still start 2026 with enough supply to cover 70 days, barring major weather disturbances that could further delay next year’s harvest season. He added that rice stocks should improve when the import ban is lifted at the end of December.

Agriculture growth — which climbed 2.8 percent in the third quarter — could slow in the current quarter, given the cyclones’ impact on corn, rice, and high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables, he said.

Asked how the DA is preparing for climate-related challenges, Secretary Tiu Laurel said post-harvest facilities such as silos and cold storage units are being built and should be ready by next year to ensure adequate food buffer stock and extend the shelf life of agricultural commodities.