ILOILO CITY (PIA) - - Agricultural production losses caused by severe tropical storm "Paeng" in Western Visayas are now estimated at P262,584,425.69, as of 9 A.M. of Monday, October 31, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office 6.
As indicated in the DA 6 latest damage and losses report, "Paeng" has affected around 10,023 farmers in the region and some 14,269.28 hectares of agricultural land with total production loss at 10,186.10 in metric tons.
The losses, mostly in rice, were reported from the provinces of Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Aklan.
DA WV Regional Information Officer James Earl Ogatis reminded affected farmers to report all their agricultural losses to their respective municipal agriculture offices, particularly those insured with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to fast track their indemnity claims.
For those who are not insured with PCIC but listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), they can be considered for other assistance provided by the agency such as seeds.
Ogatis assured that DA 6 is now consolidating available rice and vegetable seeds to be allocated to affected provinces.
“DA-WV are also in close coordination with the LGUs in validating reports in order to determine extent of damage and include in the rehabilitation plan,” said Ogatis. (JBG/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)
