About 86,000 tons lost Natural disasters cause 1.2% drop in crop yield this year

CEBU, Philippines - Climate change is likely to have a negative impact on our agriculture, this according to a press conference by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on the impact of typhoons on agriculture and health.

“For this year, we had 1.2 percent decline in the production caused by flooding and typhoons or 86.8 thousand metric tons,” said Dr. Romeo Recide, director of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.

He said that agriculture is highly sensitive and vulnerable to climate conditions.

Typhoons affect agriculture wherein there is a potential decrease in outputs, it also affects our national food program and affects the farmer and fisherfolk as well.

But Recide said that based on their forecast there is enough supply of rice for this year, with the target being 7.4 million metric tons of rice. In 2008 the Philippines was the biggest importer of rice in the whole world, he added. 

Meanwhile, the third week of June of every year has been declared as Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week to educate the public on hazard and mitigation awareness.

This as the country began experiencing rainy weather early in May, which caused flooding in some areas.

Signed by President Gloria Arroyo on June 17, 2008, Proclamation 1535 authorizes PAGASA to undertake appropriate information, education and communication activities with support from the Typhoon Committee Foundation Inc. and the Philippine Science Journalists Association, Inc.

This theme for this year’s observance is “Bagyo, Baha, Ready ka na Bro?”

Angelo Palmones, chairman of TCFI and President of PsciJourn said that with more and more disasters hitting the country, one way of ensuring the safety of our family is by helping them learn disaster preparedness measures, particularly in the event of typhoon and flood.

He added that not only are family members able to help save themselves from danger, but that they may also be instrumental in bringing others to safety.

PAG-ASA administrator Dr. Prisco Nilo called for a need to promote awareness through public information, education and propagation campaigns on typhoon and flood mitigation. — Johanna T. Natavio/BRP (THE FREEMAN)