In Rizal, about 85 hectares of palay farms and vegetable crops were partially damaged while 15 hectares were fully damaged by southwest monsoon rains.
In Batangas, five (5) hectares of tomato were already harvested while 15 hectares were still on its fruiting stage. Likewise, harvesting of matured coconut was also on-going despite of the reported incidence of scale insects. In the municipality of San Juan, scale insects were starting to multiply thus application of Banoli Oil and pruning of trees were being implemented and monitored by the PCA staff assigned in the area.
In Laguna, about 15 municipalities were adversely affected by southwest monsoon. About 5,800 hectares of palay were affected with estimated production losses of P20M of which 1,692 hectares were totally damaged while the remaining areas had 81 percent chances of recovery.
In Cavite, about 430 coconut trees were infected by scale insects, hence, farmers were instructed to prune the affected trees to avoid the spread of damage.
2. LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY
In Cavite, broiler production forecast for the third quarter is lower than last year's record because some raisers temporarily stopped operation. According to a prominent broiler raiser in Indang, about 10 raisers with estimated capacity of 150,000 heads decided not to load their farms for July to September harvesting due to losses from previous operation as a result of high mortality rate and very low feed conversion ratio (FCR) during their previous cropping.
In Rizal, sufficient supply of meat and poultry products was noted in the different public markets. Meanwhile, a commercial swine farm in Binangonan was permanently closed upon the order of the Municipal Government due to foul smell which might be hazardous to health of local residents.
San Pablo City, Laguna Slaughter House officially re-opened and resumed operation effective August 1, 2012 after its facilities were upgraded upon recommendation by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
3. FISHERIES
In Quezon and Batangas, the low supply of marine fishes and other fishery products was brought by southwest monsoon.
In Laguna, presence of knife fish which multiplies rapidly and preys on the common species in the lake aside from damaging the nets of cages in City of Calamba and lakeside towns of Los Banos, Bay, Victoria, Pila and Pangil was reported by LLDA.
4. PRICES AND MARKET SUPPLY
In Quezon, although increase in production of eggplant, ampalaya, string beans, pechay, tomato and okra was noted, prices remained on an upward trend owing to the increased demand from Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
In Cavite, prices of vegetables increased as a result of typhoons and monsoon rains. Chayote had the highest price increase from P19.00 to P47.00 per kilogram followed by ampalaya, from P45.00 to P 70.00 per kilogram; eggplant, from P45.00 to P65.00 per kilogram and upo, from P20.00 to P26.00 per kilogram. Prices of meat, average retail price of pork lean meat and fully dressed chicken remained stable at P195.00 and P137.50 per kilogram, respectively.
In Quezon, prevailing average live weight price of swine for slaughter ranged between P87.00 - P93.00 per kilogram as high inventory of stocks was noted.
In Batangas and Quezon, price of marine species increased because of limited supply.
In Batangas, average farmgate price per kilogram of calamansi went down from P18.00 to P20.00 last month to P8.00 to P10.00 this month owing to increased local producton.
In Laguna Public Markets, prices of most vegetables remained high due to limited supply.
In Rizal, retail prices of cultured species like tilapia and bangus went up as influenced by the selling price of same species sourced from Batangas and limited supply of marine species.
5. INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
In Cavite, 120 farmers affected during typhoons Gener, Igme and southwest monsoon will be provided with seeds and crop insurance by the Department of Agriculture RFU-IV A. Each of the beneficiaries will receive one bag of free certified seeds and crop insurance coverage of P10,000.00. Certified seeds will be planted in September and expected to be harvested by December.
Still in Cavite, backyard farms received stock augmentation with the arrival of 30 head of livestock committed by DA Secretary Alcala during the Stakeholders Forum in Trece Martires City last May. These included five (5) head of dairy carabaos, 20 head of goats and 10 head of piglets given for free to farmer beneficiaries.
In Laguna, the Calamba Rice Growers (CRG) Multi-Purpose Cooperative was the regional Gawad Saka awardee and was one of the finalists for the national title for the on-going search of DA on Outstanding Small Farmers Organization.
In Quezon, Niyog-yugan Festival was celebrated in Lucena City's Perez Park last August 13-19, 2012 in honor of President Manuel L. Quezon. The festival showcased all the agricultural products of Quezon and was participated in by 39 municipalities of the province.
In Rizal, DA-RFU IV-A through the LGU continuously distributed vegetable seeds to the farmers affected by monsoon rains in the municipality of Teresa, Pililia, Tanay, Morong and Jala-jala.
In Batangas, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and ABS-CBN staff in cooperation with the barangay residents of Pallocan, Batangas City planted 70 acacia trees along Calumpang River last August 25, 2012, while in Barangay Paling-owak, San Juan, Batangas, about 1,500 mahogany trees were planted.
In Cavite, the Agricultural Production Coordinating Officer received farm implements, machineries, irrigation pipes and livestocks for breeding/fattening from the DA. Most of the equipment and live animals had been distributed to target beneficiaries while some irrigation pipes were still for distribution.
6. TRAINING, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS
Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program, a season-long training on commercial production of upland vegetables was formally launched on August 10, 2012 at Calamba City. This is a project of SM Foundation Inc., DA, DAR, LGUs and NGOs with the supervision of Harbest Agribusiness Corporation to empower farmers on improved and double agriculture technology. The Provincial Agriculture Office of Laguna was tasked to provide 100 small-scale farmers with at least 100 square meter-vegetable garden.
In Laguna, the Biñan Agriculture Office in coordination with the Provincial Agriculture Office conducted a Meat- Processing Seminar at Barangay Sto. Tomas. About 40 participants were trained how to make embutido, tocino and chicken nuggets.
In San Guillermo, Morong, Rizal, selected farmers attended the Farmers' Field School which tackled technical training and actual technology application throughout planting to harvesting. This program was conducted by DA and LGU.
7. WEATHER SITUATION
Cloudy skies with rains brought by typhoons Igme and Julian and the southwest monsoon prevailed over the region.