The damage and losses due to the Taal volcano eruption have reached Php 3.06 billion from the previous report of Php 577.39 million, affecting 15,790 hectares and 1,923 animal head, this is according to the latest bulletin released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on January 16, 2020.
The increase is attributed to the additional report from Laguna and the updated reports from Batangas and Cavite in coffee, cacao, pineapple assorted fruits and vegetables, rice, coconut, and fisheries. Damaged areas and losses are still under further validation by DA-CALABARZON and BFAR.
According to the report, out of the 6,000 fish cages installed around Taal Lake, there were an estimated amount of Php 1.6 billion losses for the culture of tilapia and some bangus species. Thus, making fisheries the most affected commodity in terms of damage and losses.
“For the rescued livestock, the Bureau of Animal Industry initially delivered 20 bags of animal feeds, drugs and medicines,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
The Agri chief added that “the Philippine Carabao Center and National Dairy Authority provided 2.5 tons of roughages (1-ton corn silage and 1.5 tons rice straw) and will be transported to Batangas tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, DA-Regional Field Office II coordinated with the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal to donate 10 tons of assorted vegetables and will arrive early Saturday in Lipa City.
The League of Associations, composed of 11 Vegetable Farmers’ and Traders’ Associations in La Trinidad, Benguet, has coordinated with DA-Cordillera Administrative Region for a truck to haul 3 to 4 tons of assorted vegetables. Collection of vegetables will start on January 19 at the La Trinidad Trading Post and will be delivered to evacuation centers in Batangas in coordination with Kilusang Pagbabago and Philippine National Police.
Dar assures the public that all DA interventions are being delivered to affected farmers and fishers. ###
——-
The DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center will continue to monitor and issue regular bulletins regarding the Taal Volcano Eruption. For inquiries, kindly call (02) 8929-0140.
