PDRRMO photo
The agricultural sector of Catanduanes sustained a total of P1.56 billion in total damage due to super typhoon Uwan last Nov. 8-9, 2024, with the bulk coming from all 36,900 hectares of abaca plantations in the 11 towns.
The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) reported last week that about 6,086 hectares sustained moderate damage, with the plants slightly bent and some of its leaves lacerated, while 30,824 hectares suffered heavy damage, with the plants either uprooted or heavily bent with twisted broken stalks and leaves.
This has severely affected the livelihood of 13,889 farmers in216 abaca-producing barangays in the island province, with potential yields reduced by half from the previous 600 kilograms per hectare to just 300 kilograms per hectare, Provincial Fiber Officer Roberto Lusuegro stated.
According to the crop damage report submitted to the provincial government, the total fiber loss was estimated at 6,562.09 metric tons, representing about 44 percent of the estimated total fiber production of 14,834.07 metric tons.
The net loss in fiber production came up to a total of P362.6 million, the report said, but recoverable fiber from the partially damaged plants will still bring in about P328.3 million in income for the farmers.
The fiber loss per town are as follows: Bagamanoc, 306.66 metric tons; Baras, 689.91 MT; Bato, 486.16 MT; Caramoran, 1,130.08 MT; Gigmoto, 333.54 MT; Pandan, 392.90 MT; Panganiban, 216.59 MT; San Andres, 330.63 MT; San Miguel, 1,186.37 MT; Viga, 964.16; and Virac, 525.08 MT.
Lusuegro said that the development and rehabilitation of the damaged abaca areas will cost a total of P881 million.
The Provincial Agricultural Services Office (PASO) placed a higher value on the total damage to the abaca sector at P1.244 billion by including the total fiber loss.
In its partial report signed by Provincial Agriculturist Ace William Tria, the second most damage was sustained by the coconut industry, with 3,423 farmers losing total production worth P188 million in 2,772 hectares of plantations.
The storm likewise affected 408 hectares of rice land tilled by 663 farmers, with total production loss of 316.40 metric tons valued at P14.3 million.
High Value Crops (HVC) planted in 46 hectares of farmland were damaged, with 1,000 farmers shouldering total losses of 13.6 million.
A total of 9.46 hectares of corn land planted by 36 farmers were completely destroyed, the report added, while nearly P300,000 worth of agricultural products at the Capitol Farmville and the Techno Demo/Abaca Nursery was partially damaged.
PASO said that 161 heads of livestock were lost along with 5,048 poultry stocks, for a total damage of P5.7 million while another P4.2 million in fishery produce and stocks were either totally or partially damaged.
Irrigation systems of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) sustained total damage of P62.4 million with other damage to infrastructure facilities placed at P3 million for fishery facilities and P1 million for one irrigation system of the Department of Agriculture.
Non-infrastructure damage amounted to a total of P18.3 million, with fishery equipment accounting for P15.3 million and machineries another P2.7 million.
In reaction to the widespread damage to the island’s agriculture sector, TGP Partylist Rep. Jose “Bong” Teves Jr. has already asked Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for financial assistance and garden tools for farmers, abacaleros and fisherfolks affected by the super typhoon.
The request sent last Nov. 11, 2025 was coursed through Regional Director Rodel Tornilla.
Still pending approval before the DA and DBM is the congressman’s request for P200 million in abaca rehabilitation funds for Catanduanes farmers, which will receive incentives for rehabilitating their farms similar to the Cash-for-Work scheme being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
PhilFIDA Bicol Regional Director Mary Ann Molina told Radyo Pilipinas Virac that it has already submitted a rehabilitation plan with DA for the funding required to procure farm inputs that could be utilized by farmers while waiting for the 18 to 24-month recovery period of their plantations.
A separate proposal has been filed with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program to provide P10,000 each for farmers with heavily damaged farms and P7,000 for those who sustained moderate damage.
The agriculture department has reportedly allocated an initial P35 million for Catanduanes as post-Uwan support for its agriculture sector, including nearly P34 million for the distribution of seeds for rice and the High Value Crops (HVC) development program.
Also in the mix of assistance is the distribution of piglets, goats and chicken so that families can restart their livestock and poultry ventures; P1.45 million worth of rice from the National Food Authority; P140,000 worth of tilapia fingerlings from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); and P117,610 worth coconut seedlings from the Philippine Coconut Authority.
The initial assistance is part of the proposed P169 million agriculture rehabilitation plan for Catanduanes that will also allocate funding for BFAR and PhilFIDA.