BACOLOD City – Several local government units (LGUs) in northern Negros Occidental incurred an estimated P20 million in damage and losses to agro-fishery and livestock due to massive floods on New Year’s Day.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported that agricultural and fish farms incurred losses amounting to almost P16.5 million.
The rice sector accounted for the highest amount at about P11.6 million, affecting 1,263 farmers with production areas totaling 669.65 hectares.
These farmers are in 19 barangays of E.B. Magalona town and the cities of Sagay, Cadiz, Victorias, and Silay.
Some 32 high-value crop farmers in two villages of Silay City, with a total area of 4.2 hectares, reported P840,000 worth of losses.
In fishery, P4.1 million in damage and losses were incurred by the fishpond sector, particularly in milkfish production.
Affected were six fish producers in three barangays of E.B. Magalona, with combined production areas of 54 hectares.
Also in Silay City, a fisherman reported P20,000 worth of losses after his “tangkop” or shallow water fish water coral was destroyed.
Meanwhile, a report of the Provincial Veterinary Office showed that the province’s livestock sector recorded P3.5 million worth of damage.
Affected animal raisers were from 12 barangays in the cities of Talisay and Victorias.
During the flash floods, early morning of Jan. 1, some 15,000 families in the cities of Victorias, Silay, and Talisay; and E.B. Magalona town were affected, several individuals took shelter in various evacuation centers.
Hundreds of houses were either destroyed or damaged in the four LGUs in the third district. (With PNA/PN)
