May 9, 2024
Philippines' Department of Agriculture to verify El Nino agricultural damage reports
A senior official from the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) said that all agricultural damage caused by El Nino undergo a meticulous verification process before their public release, Philippine News Agency reported.
In an interview during the Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on Zoonoses leadership turnover, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa assured the public of transparency.
He said there's no underreporting, all damage is being reported and released after careful validation.
According to DA Bulletin No 9, the Philippines has incurred PHP 5.9 billion (US$102 million) in agricultural losses, primarily in regions from the western portion. Corn production saw PHP 1.76 billion (US$30 million) in losses, high-value crops at PHP 958.06 million (US$16.6 million), fisheries at PHP 33.83 million (US$589,000), affecting 2,261 fishermen, and livestock and poultry at PHP 7.93 million (US$138,000).
The Mimaropa region reported the highest damage at PHP 1.71 billion (US$29 million), followed by Western Visayas at PHP 1.5 billion (US$26 million), Cordillera Administrative Region at PHP 768 million (US$13.3 million), and Cagayan Valley at PHP 562 million (US$9.7 million).
- Philippine News Agency
