MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked P495.4 million worth of agricultural assistance—including rice, corn, and vegetable seeds—for farmers in regions affected by Tropical Storm Crising and the intensified Southwest Monsoon.

In a report, DA Undersecretary for Operations and officer-in-charge Roger Navarro said Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 6 will receive the bulk of the aid. Additional support in the form of Quick Response Funds, Survival and Recovery Loans, and insurance indemnification through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) will also be made available.

Initial estimates from the DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operations Center (DRRMOC) placed total agricultural losses at P134.7 million, covering rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock, and poultry.

The storm affected over 8,000 hectares of farmland and displaced 6,377 farmers and fisherfolk, though Navarro said these figures remain subject to validation.

“These numbers are still being assessed and may change as we gather more information from the ground,” Navarro said.

The DA also assured the public it is monitoring the crisis closely, especially in the highland vegetable sector, to avoid supply chain disruptions and prevent sharp price hikes in key commodities.

The National Food Authority (NFA), meanwhile, is on standby to release rice stocks in support of local government units and national relief operations.