Total damage in agriculture due to Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) is nearing the P1-billion mark, initial estimates of the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed.

In its bulletin uploaded on Friday, November 13, the DA said total losses climbed to P969.8 million, affecting 40,519 farmers and over 51,200 hectares of agricultural land.

Volume of production loss is at almost 59,000 metric tons.

The affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, fisheries, and livestock in the Cordillera Autonomous Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol.

There were also reported damage and losses in irrigation facilities, fisheries facilities, and fisheries equipment.

Farmers are still reeling from the impact of Typhoon Quinta (Molave) and Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni).

Quinta wiped out P2.7 billion worth of agricultural goods, while losses due to Rolly reached P5 billion. – Rappler.com