CROP damage from tropical storm Krovanh, known in the Philippines as Vicky, was estimated at P129.76 million as of early Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

The DA said the storm damaged 1,202 metric tons (MT) of crops across 21,008 hectares of farmland. More than 16,761 farmers and fisherfolk were affected.

Losses were reported in the Cagayan Valley, Davao, and Caraga regions. The latest damage reports were swelled by additional reporting from Davao and Caraga.

The affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock, and poultry.

Rice accounted for the majority of the damage at 83%, followed by corn at 16%, and other sub sectors at 1%.

Damage to rice amounted to P107.3 million, across 19,969 hectares. Losses to the corn crop were valued at P20.8 million, on volume of around 520 metric tons across 910 hectares.

Damage to high-value crops was P1.34 million; livestock and poultry were P148,850; and fisheries were at P163,000.

The DA said that affected farmers and fisherfolk are in line for government aid in the form of rice, corn, and vegetable seeds; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; fingerlings and fisheries equipment; access to the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program; and indemnification from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

Vicky, the 22nd storm to transit the Philippines this year, made landfall in the Philippines twice, bringing moderate to heavy rains over the Bicol region, Isabela, Aurora, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, and Palawan, including Calamian, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, according to the government weather service.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rains were experienced in Metro Manila, the Visayas, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and the rest of mainland Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. — Angelica Y. Yang

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