CROP insurance payments to farmers affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine will cost the government at least P666.5 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
An initial report from state-owned Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) showed that 86,066 farmers from 10 regions had their crops damaged or wiped out by the storm, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
PCIC President JB Jovy Bernabe said the damage was primarily in rice, high-value crops, and fisheries, adding that an “initial amount of P667 million for insurance payments” had been set aside.
In particular, expected insurance payments were estimated to be at P413.6 million for rice, P167.9 million for high-value crops and P27.7 million for fisheries.
Tiu Laurel called for expedited releases of the insurance payments and also told the PCIC to provide all possible assistance to help farmers quickly recover.
“The pace of recovery for agriculture after a disaster like this will be determined by how quickly the government can provide inputs and financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk,” he added.
The Agriculture chief also ordered all DA-attached agencies such as the National Food Authority and the PCIC to conduct quick needs assessments and accordingly provide assistance.
Latest assessments made by the department showed that agricultural damage due to Kristine had climbed to P5.75 billion as of November 2. The affected farmers and fisherfolk were said to be in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, the Cordilleras, Bicol, Mimaropa, Eastern and Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.
The production loss was estimated to be 557,851 metric tons (MT) covering 109,871 hectares (ha) planted to rice, corn and high value crops.
The palay or unmilled rice damage comprised 516,438 MT or P4.25 billion. High-value crops recorded a loss of P847.48 million; fisheries, P446.22 million; corn, P72.15 million; and livestock and poultry. P12.52 million.
The damage to agricultural infrastructure was estimated at P77.41 million.
Tiu Laurel also instructed the PCIC to prepare for potential damage that might have been inflicted on the agriculture sector by Super Typhoon Leon, which followed in the wake of Kristine.
Leon did not make landfall but its gale-force winds extended for over 600 kilometers from its center, which could have caused significant damage to the farming and fishery sectors.
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