The DA Central Action Center (DACAC) has monitored the following situation affecting agriculture and fisheries:

• Current Weather Situation - Typhoon "Juan"

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that at 5:00 a.m, 21 October 2010 Typhoon "JUAN" continues to move away from the country. It's location at 4:00 PM was 300 km West Northwest of Laoag City with the strength of maximum winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecast to move North Northeast at 7 kph. It is expected to be at 370 km West of Basco, Batanes tomorrow morning.

• Situation of Dams in Luzon

Based from the report of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the water level as of 8:00 AM of October 21, 2010, of the 4 dams in Luzon are as follows:

• Update on Losses to Agriculture due to Super Typhoon "Juan"

The value of losses to agriculture increased to P 7.55 B (from P 4.77 B yesterday). The amount covers the estimated cost of damaged irrigation facilities and data from 2 provinces in Central Luzon (Tarlac and Bulacan)

The loss is still biggest in rice at P 5.35 B, followed by high value commercial crops (HVCC) at P 613.49 M, and corn at P 348.42 M. The damage to fisheries is placed at P 49.94 M, while the estimate for livestock is P 4.75 M.

Of the eighteen (18) provinces, Pangasinan and Isabela suffered the biggest losses estimated at P 2.22 B and P 1.24 B, respectively.

The total cropland affected is 305,028 hectares in the 4 Luzon regions as follows: CAR (Ifugao, Apayao, Mt. Province, Benguet, Kalinga, and Abra); Region I (Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union); Region II (Isabela, and Cagayan); and Region III (Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Aurora, Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan ).

• Area Affected, Volume lost and Value per Sector

Rice - a total of 285,447 hectares of rice lands were affected resulting to the loss of some 314,577MT of palay worth P 5.35 B from 17 provinces (Bulacan excluded).

Corn - 15,474 hectares of corn fields were affected resulting to a loss of 25,812 MT corn grains. Of the area affected, 105 hectares have no chance of recovery and 15,369 hectares could still recover. Twelve (12) provinces lost corn crops namely Ifugao, Isabela, Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Pampanga and Tarlac.

High Value Commercial Crops - 4,107 hectares of HVCC were affected resulting to the loss of some 17, 583 MT of vegetables and fruits (mainly mango and banana) in 12 provinces of the 4 affected regions.

Livestock/Poultry - A total of P 4.75 M was lost from lost livestock ( swine, goat, cattle) and poultry (duck, chicken, turkey, geese in the provinces of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan Bulacan and Pampanga.

Fisheries - the sector lost P 49.94 M as fishery products from 208 hectares of fishponds and 98 units fish cages and 5 payaos were damaged in Cagayan and Isabela.

Lost were 5.17 M pieces of fingerlings/fry/juvenile and 365 MT of marketable fishes (Tilapia, Siganids, Bangus, Vannamei shrimps).

Infrastructure/Facilities - the typhoon has damaged a great number of facilities in the affected region. The cost of damaged irrigation facilities is estimated at P 1.18 B while for fisheries at P 950,000. DACAC is yet to receive the estimates for other infrastructures and facilities.

• Impact of the super Typhoon to the 4th Quarter Production of Rice and Corn

Rice - the typhoon affected a total of 285,447 hectares of rice area which is 15.34 % of the 1,860,395 hectares supposed to be harvested in the whole country from October to December this year. Production loss, on the other hand, at 314,577 MT is 4.50% of the forecast production of 6,997,964 MT in the country.

Corn - the corn area covering 15,474 hectares which were affected is 2.40 % of the 645,695 hectares harvestable area in the 4th quarter. Lost production of 25,812 MT is 1.61% of the 1,603,758 MT forecast production for the period.

• Rehabilitation of Areas Affected by the Typhoon

Yesterday, Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has led the preparation of the rehabilitation plan to recoup the losses of typhoon affected farmers.

The plan includes the provision of certified palay seeds at one bag per hectare to severely affected rice farmers. For those farms that were not so severely damaged, the plan is to subsidize the half of the cost of one bag certified seeds.

The preparation of the details of the rehabilitation plan is underway as field assessment and verification of the damages are being done by the DA and concerned Local Government Units (LGUs).
DACAC is continually monitoring situation and will provide update as soon as new data are received from concerned offices.

PREPARED BY:

MARITES D. BERNARDO
Chief, DA Central Action Center