LUNA, Apayao – The Provincial Office of Agricultural Services (POAS)-Apayao reported on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, ₱8,179,098.75 worth of damage in the agricultural sector covering rice and corn due to Typhoon Marce.
This amount can change pending final consolidation and validation.
According to POAS-Apayao, data from the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Information System (DRRMIS) showed that damages on rice reached ₱3,703,209.75, while damages on yellow corn was at ₱4,475,889.
Assessment done by Apayao-POAS revealed about 542 farmers cultivating over 424.86 hectares have been affected by said typhoon.
Of the total cost of devastation on rice, the municipality of Conner reported the highest losses with ₱1,635,517.50, mostly inbreed seeds type sowed in rainfed lowland and others in irrigated ecosystems. Flora recorded ₱1,269,100.00 worth of damages, all were inbred seeds planted in rainfed lowland. Kabugao noted damages of ₱671,467.25, while Pudtol ₱127,125.
In terms of losses on corn, Pudtol was the worst hit with sum of ₱2,645,738, while Conner lost ₱1,139,586.00 worth of corn, Kabugao ₱521,490 and Flora ₱168,750.
Most of these major crops, said POAS-Apayao, were in their maturing and reproductive stages.
Provincial Agriculturist Prudencio Bosing, in an interview on Friday, said the damages on other commodities like high value crops, fishery, and livestock are not yet included on the consolidated report.
‘For the municipalities which have no reflected damages on rice and corn, that means that they had already harvested their crops prior to the onslaught of Typhoon Marce,’’ he explained.
Recently, Apayao has declared a State of Calamity- a condition involving vast devastation to environment, property, infrastructures, and disruption of means of livelihoods as brought by the occurrence of natural disasters. During such a declaration, the provincial government may impose measures such as appropriation of calamity funds and price freeze for necessities.
Apayao leaders, Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. and Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, have been working jointly, assuring the affected farmers for the provision of rehabilitation programs and other intervention initiatives. By Arjay Baysa
