The agriculture sector has incurred P1.03 billion worth of damage and losses due to the onslaught of rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and the recent tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Monday.
Ongoing assessment by regional offices showed that the damage were recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas, affecting 25,662 hectares of agricultural areas.
Of the total damage and losses, rice accounted for the biggest share at P589.44 million.
High-value crops suffered P313.07 million in losses, including upland and lowland vegetables, spices, legumes, citrus, durian, lanzones, mangosteen, calamansi, papaya, watermelon, banana, root crops, and ornamental crops.