The Department of Agriculture has vowed to provide assistance to farmers devastated by Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. detailed various recovery measures to help affected producers. The aid focuses on financial support and essential inputs to speed up recovery.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has committed to rolling out comprehensive aid for farmers and fisherfolk hit by Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the agency has prepared post-typhoon assistance, including low-interest recovery loans, insurance indemnification, financial and fuel aid, and inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, fingerlings, boats, and fishing gear. This support aims to help food producers recover quickly from the calamity.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has allocated P251 million to compensate insured farmers for losses from Tino and is currently assessing damages from Uwan to process further claims.
Additionally, the DA has activated its Quick Response Fund and Survival and Recovery Loan Program to bolster affected communities.
Tiu Laurel highlighted severe impacts in Catanduanes, where agricultural damage from the typhoons totals nearly P700 million. "Coconut plantations were almost wiped out," he noted. Overall destruction to the province's agricultural goods, including abaca, coconut, and fisheries, could reach P1 billion to P2 billion combined from both storms.