THE ESTIMATE of agricultural damage caused by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) has been raised to P11.1 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The typhoon affected 389,316 farmers and fishermen across 420,465 hectares of agricultural land. The volume of lost production was 252,956 metric tons.

Damage was reported in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City) and the Caraga region.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said it will provide six 20-foot fiberglass boats and two freezers to fisherfolk beneficiaries and associations affected by the storm in Southern Leyte.

On Dec. 28, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said more than P154 million worth of humanitarian assistance has been provided to affected families in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The DA also said it will provide P314 million worth of rice seed, P129 million worth of corn seed, and P57 million worth of assorted vegetables to affected farmers. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

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