AFTERMATH. Photo shows the devastation caused by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng on a rice plantation in Albay province following its onslaught on Oct. 29, 2022. In Legazpi City, some PHP10.7-million worth of agricultural products was reported damaged. (Photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – Some PHP10.7-million worth of agricultural products was damaged here after Severe Tropical Storm Paeng hit the Bicol region before All Saints’ Day.
City Agriculture Office (CAO) chief Shiela Nas, in an interview on Monday, said her office has finished assessing the extent of damage to the agricultural products that directly hit more than 127 hectares of palay plantations.
Nas said of the PHP10.7 million, PHP9.24 million, or 86 percent, came from certified palay rice fields tilled by 167 farmers.
She said of the typhoon-hit palay plantations, 89.5 hectares were totally destroyed while 37.85 hectares were only partially damaged.
“An estimated PHP1,459,972 worth of vegetable plantations was also flattened to the ground,” Nas said.
She said her office is still waiting for assistance for the affected farmers from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal.
She said at least 200 bags of certified seeds of palay from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) were distributed to the farmers as part of the assistance program under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) mandated by the Rice Tariffication Law.
“The palay seeds would be used by the farmers for their next cropping season while CAO will also distribute vegetable seeds soon to the affected farmers,” Nas said.
She said the affected rice farmers can claim insurance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).
All the city’s legitimate farmers have been enrolled in the Registry System in Basic Sector on Agriculture, while the palay they planted were all insured with the PCIC. (PNA)
