'Yolanda' exacts P6.87 billion toll on farm sector

MANILA - Damage to the country's agriculture sector brought about by Typhoon 'Yolanda' climbed to P6.87 billion, surpassing that caused by tropical storm 'Santi'.

The latest figure from the Department of Agriculture (DA) is nearly double the P3.7 billion the agency reported earlier.

'Yolanda' lay to waste 134,085 hectares of farmland, of which 81,056 hectares were planted to rice. The typhoon destroyed 137,225 metric tons of palay worth P2.23 billion.

Next to rice, the coconut sector incurred P1.49 billion in losses, as Eastern Visayas, which produces a fifth of the country's coconuts, sustained the heaviest damage among the three regions in the Visayas.

Coconuts are the country's top agriculture export and comprises a fourth of the Philippines' merchandise shipments.

The fisheries sector incurred P1.15 billion in losses, followed by the corn industry, with 9,061 hectares laid to waste, destroying 9,452 metric tons worth P117.41 million.

The damage to irrigation facilities reached P1.01 billion.

In light of the heavy toll on Eastern Visayas, the National Food Authority (NFA) is shipping grains from its warehouses in Central Visayas.

“Food items will be moved from the production areas to affected places utilizing DA-supported market mechanisms such as the Barangay Food Terminal/LGU food trading centers,” said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

“Functional food warehouses will also be utilized for food stocking,” he said.

Besides rice, the government is sending six refrigerated vans -- three from Manila and Baguio and another three from Albay -- containing frozen chicken, potatoes and other vegetables to Eastern Visayas.

Non-refrigerated vans containing eggs and other dry items would also be sent to Eastern Visayas.
The DA will deploy the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' 1,200-ton vessel anchored in Cagayan de Oro, as well as smaller ships to ferry food items.
Apart from its own equipment, the government has tapped San Miguel Corp to provide poultry supply.

Alacal said the Philippine Coconut Authority will distribute chain-saws for clearing operations, using idle labor in typhoon-ravaged areas to man the equipment for P300 a day.

As for municipal fishermen, the government will provide 1,300 fishing boats equipped with five-horsepower engines and nets.

source: interaksyon.com

US Gulf states on heightened alert over Isaac

TAMPA, Florida - Three US Gulf Coast states declared states of emergency on Sunday as Tropical Storm Isaac barreled toward land, threatening to slam into Louisiana as a damaging hurricane.

The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama issued their declarations as Florida, which declared a state of emergency a day earlier, was drenched by heavy rains and strong winds from the storm.

The declarations make funds available to respond to the storm and order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans.

A hurricane warning was in effect east of Morgan City Louisiana to Destin, Florida, including metropolitan New Orleans, which is marking the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city and killed around 1,800 people.

The storm is forecast to hit as a category two hurricane on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale -- with top winds swirling at 96-110 miles (83-95 kilometers) per hour -- when it makes landfall.

"We are encouraging everyone to get prepared now to ensure that you have an evacuation plan in place, plenty of water, non-perishable food items, hygiene supplies, sufficient clothing and any prescription medications you or your family may need in the event of the storm," Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said in a statement.

"As with every storm, we always hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

He recommended voluntary evacuations within the hurricane watch area, which includes low-lying areas, those zones outside of levee protection and areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said he was mobilizing the resources that his community needed as the storm approached.

"I am urging everyone to take precautions now, monitor weather warnings and be prepared for whatever Isaac may bring," he said.

Bentley ordered mandatory evacuations in parts of Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner urged residents to "make preparations now for the potential impact of strong winds and heavy rains."

The National Hurricane Center has also issued both a tropical storm warning and a hurricane warning for multiple counties in Mississippi.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant authorized the state's National Guard to deploy 10 members of its civil support team to coastal counties, and urged residents to finalize their preparations.

"We are taking the threat of impact from Isaac seriously, and we are working to ensure that Mississippi is well-prepared," Bryant said.

"Sound preparations will enable us to ramp up our response without losing time if the situation worsens."

source: interaksyon.com