DA: P551M agri damage from Super Typhoon Julian

Super Typhoon 'Julian' (international name: Krathon) caused over P551 million in agricultural damage across the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

The Department of Agriculture reported that 29,734 farmers were affected with damages spanning 22,623 metric tons over 15,296 hectares of farmland, primarily impacting rice crops.

To support affected farmers, the DA has prepared P166.67 million worth of seeds for rice, corn, and vegetables, along with up to P25,000 loans from the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program at zero interest for three years.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) is also available to provide compensation for insured farmers.

Ilocos Norte and Cagayan Valley were identified as the hardest-hit areas with ongoing assessments expected to reveal further damage.