DA Partial Estimate: P498.27M Damage Crops, Fisheries Due to ‘Ruby’

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has pegged P498.27 million initial damage estimates on crops and the fisheries sector from the furious Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), report said.

Assistant Secretary Edilberto De Luna told said over GMA News Online report that based on the latest report of the department’s regional offices, damage estimates for palay, corn and high value crops reached P385.52 million.

Luna noted the estimates included 25,171 metric tons of crops, as in 19,610 MT of palay, 5,125 MT of corn and 436 MT of high value crops. He said this is only coming from two regions: Regions VIII at V.

For the fisheries sector, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez said the latest damage estimates reached P112.75 million after the typhoon battered Regions V and VIII, report said.

“These are all initial estimates. We have a team of validators though we are only required to go out after the storm has passed,” he said.

Source: GMA News Online