MANILA, Philippines — The combined impact of Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng, together with the enhanced southwest monsoon or Habagat, has pushed agricultural damage and losses in the Philippines to approximately ₱1.79 billion, according to the latest assessment from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The latest figure, reported by the DA on August 22, represents an increase from the ₱1.73-billion estimate recorded as of August 20, underscoring the continuing toll of prolonged rains, flooding and severe weather on farms and fisheries.
The DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said the weather disturbances have affected 51,229 farmers and damaged around 41,647 hectares of agricultural areas. Production losses have reached approximately 44,745 metric tons, with affected commodities including rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry.
The damage has been reported across eight regions: the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region and Western Visayas.
Rice and other crops bear the brunt
The latest assessment shows how heavily crop production has been hit.
Rice remains among the most severely affected commodities. An earlier DA assessment cited by The Philippine Star put rice production losses at 26,921 metric tons, covering 3,696 hectares and valued at about ₱974.82 million as of August 20. High-value crops accounted for another ₱540.11 million in losses, with about 12,492 metric tons of production affected.
The figures could still increase.
The DA warned that additional damage and losses may be recorded as field assessments and validation continue in affected areas.
Government rushes assistance to affected farmers
Amid the growing losses, the government has begun mobilizing agricultural assistance.
The DA said it has prepared about ₱210.93 million worth of agricultural inputs, including rice, corn and vegetable seeds, for affected farmers and fisherfolk. The National Food Authority is also providing 3,631 bags of palay-milled rice to affected local government units in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and MIMAROPA.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation has also released around ₱35.67 million in indemnification for 5,005 insured farmers and fisherfolk affected by the weather disturbances.
Affected farmers may also access the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, which offers loans of up to ₱25,000, payable over three years at zero interest.
Philippine News Agency likewise reported that more than 50,000 farmers and fishers had been affected and that government assistance was being prepared as the agricultural losses mounted.
Severe weather continues to threaten agricultural recovery
The agricultural losses come after weeks of rain and repeated weather disturbances that have affected large portions of Luzon and parts of the Visayas.
The Philippine Star reported that Neneng weakened into a low-pressure area after exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility, but the southwest monsoon continued to bring rain to parts of Luzon. The same report noted that a new tropical system was being monitored outside PAR, raising concerns that the monsoon could again be enhanced.
ABS-CBN News had earlier reported that Maymay and the Habagat brought more than a week’s worth of August rainfall to some drought-hit areas of Luzon, illustrating the rapid shift from dry conditions to flooding and excessive rainfall in some agricultural communities.
The situation highlights a difficult challenge for farmers: even as one weather disturbance weakens or exits the country, another system can prolong rainfall and delay the recovery of damaged farms.
What happens next?
For now, the ₱1.79-billion figure should not be treated as the final agricultural damage bill.
With validation still underway, the DA expects the assessment to evolve as regional offices document additional crop, livestock, fisheries and infrastructure losses.
For thousands of farmers, however, the issue goes beyond the peso value of destroyed crops. Every flooded field can mean lost income, delayed planting and another setback for families whose livelihoods depend on agriculture.
And with more weather systems being monitored near the Philippines, the question now is whether the ₱1.79-billion agricultural damage figure will continue climbing.
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