BUTUAN CITY – Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Engr. Zamzamin L. Ampatuan met with staff and key personnel of DA Regional Field Office 13 and attached agencies in the region on December 22, 2021, to talk about the effects of Super Typhoon Odette on agriculture.

The DA-RFO 13 reported to the Undersecretary that the initial damage caused by the typhoon was initially estimated at Php 979 million. After the report, Usec. Ampatuan told his audience about lessons that can be learned from the disaster, the need to revise plans and targets, and to devise ways to reduce the impacts of natural disasters to farming communities in the future. He mentioned the importance of climate-resilient agriculture particularly the planting of crop varieties and mangrove forests that can either withstand storms and flooding or ease the impact of storm surges in coastal areas.

After the briefing, the Undersecretary then proceeded to Surigao del Norte and other areas in the region where he was able to assess the extent of devastation brought about by the super typhoon.

Among the attached agencies present during the briefing were BFAR, NIA, NFA, PhilRice, and ATI to name a few.