US extends P55-M aid to Carina victims

FLOODING. A flooded road in Mangatarem, Pangasinan on July 26, 2024. The province recorded P247 million in initial damage to agriculture and infrastructure due to Supertyphoon Carina. —official Facebook page of Pangasinan DRRMO

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has donated P55 million ($1 million) to assist communities affected by Supertyphoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) in Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Pampanga and Metro Manila.

Flood victims will also receive food aid, hygiene kits, emergency shelter kits, clean water, and onetime cash transfers through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding to “allow them to recover from the disaster safely and with dignity,” the US Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

READ: Carina, habagat and a tropical depression killed 28 people – NDRRMC

“We are committed to working with the Philippine government and people as they rebuild and recover from this disaster,” USAID acting mission director Betty Chung said.

Fourteen people have been confirmed dead after Carina and the southwest monsoon (habagat) caused heavy rains which resulted in widespread flooding last week, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

READ: Typhoon Carina destroys irrigation systems worth P29.1M in Calabarzon

DA damage report

The Department of Agriculture (DA) estimated the damage to agriculture at P1.21 billion as of Wednesday. It said Carina affected 46,625 farmers and fisherfolk in the regions of Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and Caraga.

Rice comprised 52.47 percent or P635.17 million of the overall damage as the typhoon wiped out 10,639 metric tons on 39,785 hectares of land.

Fisheries incurred P360.80 million in losses, equivalent to 29.8 percent of the total.

The DA also recorded damage in corn, high-value crops, livestock and poultry, and irrigation facilities.

“Best possible efforts are also being undertaken to carry out assistance and appropriate interventions to affected farmers and fisherfolk,” it said.

These include 77,496 bags of rice and corn seeds and biocontrol measures totaling P305.33 million; 1,500 kilograms or 63,494 packs of vegetable seeds and 4,240 cans of biocontrol measures worth P21.46 million.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is also distributing fingerlings, fishing gear and paraphernalia while the Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s Survival and Recovery Loan Program is prepared to extend up to P25,000 in loans payable in three years at zero interest.