As of date, Super Typhoon Egay was reported to have caused more than Php648.1M worth of damages to 14,016 Ilocos farmers after leaving the country last Friday, July 28.

Damages to agricultural infrastructures incurred a total of Php314,571,840. The province of Ilocos Norte recorded the highest damage valuing at more than Php218.8M, followed by La Union at Php50M, Pangasinan at Php31.1M, and Ilocos Sur at Php14.6M.

Ilocos farmers’ major crops such as rice, corn, and other high value produce suffered a production loss of 2,529.59 metric tons amounting to Php227.2M.

For rice, farmers in Ilocos Norte reported the highest production loss amounting to Php88.7M alongside high value crops with Php8.3M.

As for corn, farmers in Ilocos Sur acquired the most damages amounting to Php25.3M.

Regionwide, livestock has a total production loss of Php103.4M with the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur reporting the highest damages amounting to Php47.2M and Php54.9M, respectively.

In the fisheries sector, the province of La Union incurred production loss amounting to almost Php1.5M, followed by Ilocos Norte at Php1.05M, and Pangasinan at more than Php0.31M.

As an initial support to the affected farmers, the Department of Agriculture has already procured rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds amounting to Php18.3M for distribution.

Reported damages are still subject for validation by the DA-RFO I validating team.###

(Photos credit to Ms. Reinamae Banquirig and Mr. Charles Charlie Belisario)