Agri, infra damage from Frank hits P10 B

MANILA, Philippines – The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by typhoon “Frank” had reached P10 billion.

President Arroyo presided over the NDCC meeting in Iloilo yesterday and NDCC executive officer Glen Rabonza reported that the agriculture sector recorded damages of P5.21 billion worth of rice, corn, fisheries, livestock and other high value crops.

He said damage to commercial fishing operations, including fish cages and fishing boats, had reached P1.68 billion.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap informed the President that the typhoon would affect only 0.47 percent of the rice harvest target for the year.

Yap said that the DA would distribute rice seeds to the affected areas of Regions 6, 12 and 8.

He said that the National Food Authority has secured enough good quality commercial rice seeds from its warehouses to cover all of the affected areas.

Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras said that the rehabilitation program would entail P833 million.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education reported that damage to school buildings in the storm-ravaged areas was estimated at P679 million.

GMA inspects typhoon-affected areas

Since arriving from the United States last Monday morning, the President has already been moving around the country, particularly in the provinces affected by typhoon Frank.

On Monday, the President presided over a meeting of the Region 3 disaster coordinating council after dropping by Baler, Aurora for the Philippines-Spanish Friendship Day celebration.

Mrs. Arroyo visited yesterday Digos City in Davao then proceeded to Iloilo for an NDCC and Cabinet meeting.

The President then flew to Kalibo, Aklan for the distribution of relief goods to residents affected by typhoon Frank.

The Department of Agriculture Central Action Center (DACAC) reported that typhoon Frank destroyed palay worth P797 million after 25,714 metric tons (MT) of crops in 94,203 hectares were damaged, while P464.9 million worth of corn was destroyed after 46,094 MT of crops in 38,758 hectares were damaged.

Rehabilitation efforts would include the repair of damaged irrigation facilities covering over 50,000 hectares.

Paras said the proposed rehabilitation program would include subsidies for seeds, inorganic fertilizer and Bio-N or microbial inoculants, and transport and hauling support for farmers.

The plan will include a fry/fingerling dispersal program, handout of fishing gear like payaos, bancas, fish traps, fish corrals and gillnets; replacement of buoys and markers in fish sanctuaries, and repair of damaged facilities of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Paras said the plan will provide subsidies for seeds, tissue cultured plantlets and other planting materials for vegetable, banana and mango growers in completely damaged areas, plus the intensified implementation of technology transfer programs to encourage the off-season production of these high-value crops.

Subsidies for feed assistance to backyard swine raisers, a native chicken dispersal project, animal health programs and laboratory services will also be included in the rehabilitation plan for the benefit of affected stakeholders in the livestock and poultry industries.

Typhoon Frank ravaged Central, Eastern and Western Visayas, Bicol, Southern Tagalog regions, Central and Northern Luzon and left 540 persons dead, 175 injured and 41 others missing.

Not included in the casualty report are the more than 800 passengers of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars that sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon at the height of typhoon Frank.

Visiting Gen. Boonsrang Niumpradit, supreme commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, said Thailand would donate $100,000 to the typhoon victims.

He made the pledge during his official call on Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Niumpradit said that Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundarayavej ordered the release of the money to assist in the relief operations.

Other countries including Japan, China and Canada had earlier pledged donations to the victims of the typhoon. – With Marianne Go, Jaime Laude