MANILA -- Noting the vast damage left by super typhoon Egay to agriculture in Northern Luzon, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured on Saturday the local chief executives and the farmers affected will receive all forms of support and assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA). from the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

“We will provide as much as we can in terms of assistance, in terms of seedlings – binhi,” President Marcos told the local chief executives during the situation briefing on the effects of super typhoon Egay in Cagayan Valley. 

The President, who is also the concurring secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said they will determine the variety of rice that will be distributed to the affected farmers in Northern Luzon that can withstand the expected rainy season. 

The President made the assurance during the situation briefings he presided separately on Saturday with the governors of Regions 1 and 2 and Cordillera Administrative and various government agencies involved in disaster response efforts. 

He presided briefings in Bangued, Abra, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte and Tuguegarao, Cagayan where he received initial reports on the effects of super typhoon Egay. He also conducted aerial inspection of the affected areas in Abra and Ilocos Norte.

The local officials concerned briefed the President on the initial damage assessment in their respective provinces. 

Initial reports showed that approximately Php1.243 billion worth of damage and losses to agriculture were reported in the three regions. The figure, however, is expected to go up in the coming days as more LGUs submit their respective reports. (PND)