LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) — The provincial government of Benguet is closely coordinating with the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera to look into ways to support affected farmers amid the continuing inclement weather.
Benguet Provincial Agriculturist Delinia Juan reported that as of August 17, 2026, agricultural damage due to the effects of the recent tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the continuing Southwest Monsoon in the province was estimated at P476,778,578.92.
Juan said they are expecting the cost of damage to increase as they continue to gather weather-related damage reports on crops, farms, and equipment to allow the government to assess the assistance needed.
Farmers may submit their reports, including documentation, such as photos of damage, to the barangay agriculture extension workers or their respective municipal agriculture offices.
Initial reports from the Municipal Agriculture Offices show that more than 1,200 hectares have been affected by the rains in the past two weeks, with more than 6,000 farmers affected.
Damage in the agricultural sector includes high-value crops, farm machinery and equipment, infrastructure, and some farmland washed away by floods.
Bakun reported the most serious damage with more than P200 million, followed by Buguias with over P58M and Atok with more than P57M.
“Some of the reported damages were initially reported as partially damaged during the recent tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and were further affected by the two weeks of heavy rains from the enhanced habagat in the province,” Juan explained.
Meanwhile, on the reported dumping of vegetables in Benguet, Juan said that some farmers were forced to dispose their produce along the roads over the weekend after having a hard time selling their produce at the La Trinidad Trading Post and the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center and other trading areas in La Trinidad.
She said that the farmers have lined up their trucks filled with vegetables such as carrots, cabbages, and Chinese cabbages. Unfortunately, there were no buyers in the past few days, and the vegetables started to deteriorate after being stranded under the heavy rains, leading farmers to dump their produce along roads in Tublay.
She said that while there is more supply of vegetables, there are also fewer buyers since last week due to the continuous heavy rains and the extreme flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, which is also a challenge to truckers who deliver goods to the different markets.
According to a DA release, “Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has directed the DA regional office to immediately assess the situation and take the necessary steps to assist vegetable farmers in addressing challenges caused by weather disruptions and market constraints.”
In the meantime, the DA-CAR continues to provide transport assistance and institutional buyer linkages through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo. Under the program, 46 farmer cooperatives and associations were assisted, and the transport of about 32.83 metric tons of vegetables to direct markets was facilitated this month of August. **JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR
