Agricultural secretary Emmanuel Piñol will visit Typhoon hit Isabela after President Rodrigo Duterte scolded him for not being able to attend the recent command conference
TO TAKE A CHOICE. Typhoon Rosita causes damage in Northern Luzon and at least damages P1.85 billion of agricultural products. Malacañang photo
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Rosita (Yutu) has yielded at least P1.85 billion in agricultural damage, said the Department of Agricultural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (DA-DRRMOC) on Saturday, November 3.
Agricultural goods lost to the typhoon were estimated at 98,870 tons and covered 93,209 hectares in northern Luzon.
A total of P1.41 billion of rice was damaged, mostly from Isabela and Cagayan.
In the meantime, a total of P48.57 million in maize was affected, with Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya taking most of the hit.
A total of 19,213 farmers and fishermen were struck by Rosita's attack.
The DA-DRRMOC already mobilized regional teams to validate the estimates.
Seed buffer stocks for rice, corn and various high-quality crops are distributed among the affected regions.
Agricultural secretary Emmanuel Piñol said he will personally visit Typhoon-hit Isabela to check the needs of affected farmers.
His announcement came after President Rodrigo Duterte scolded him for not being able to take part in the command conference on the effects of Rosita last Wednesday, October 31st.
DA director Narciso Edillo represented Piñol in the briefing. Piñol said Saturday in a Facebook message that he was with his family and visited the grave of his deceased father.
"I take the blame and apologize if the office of the President has not informed President Duterte of my request to be represented by another official on that trip," Piñol said.
"Personally I interpret the act of the president of searching for the agricultural secretary in the briefing as an indication of the importance he attaches to the welfare of farmers and fishermen affected by the typhoon," he added.
Rosita left the Filipino responsibility domain last Wednesday. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), at least 11 deaths occurred due to landslides and sudden flooding. – Rappler.com
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