ILOILO City – The damage left by Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” in Western Visayas’ agriculture sector has now reached over P1.5 billion, affecting a total of 39,961 farmers and fisherfolk.
Data shared by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6 as of Nov. 7 showed a total of 33,507.13 metric tons of production losses valued at P1,539,520,393.63.
Data further showed 180,218.57 hectares of farmlands in the region were damaged, of which 8,240.98 hectares have no chance of recovery or totally damaged, while 26,883.67 hectares have a chance of recovery or are partially damaged.
The damages to crops and agriculture facilities include:
* rice – P706.8 million;
* corn – P44.4 million;
* high-value crops – P15.3 million;
* sugarcane – P4.9 million;
* livestock and poultry – P23.7 million;
* aquaculture – P621.9 million;
* capture fisheries – P70.9 million;
* agricultural infrastructure (irrigation system) – P50 million, among others
Iloilo province has the most affected farmers and production losses, with 14,103 farmers and P345,090,065.85, respectively.
Capiz followed with 11,322 farmers affected and P745,289,727.08 worth of agriculture damage.
Antique, which was also severely hit by the typhoon, has 5,773 farmers affected and 199,808,599.93 worth of agriculture damage, while Negros Occidental has 7,529 farmers affected and P227.2 million worth of production loss in agriculture.
The less affected provinces were Aklan, with 956 farmers and P16,229,876 worth of agricultural damage, and Guimaras with 278 farmers and agriculture damage amounting to P 5,867,986.16.
Meanwhile, the typhoon-affected towns/cities per province were the following:
* Negros Occidental – Valladolid, Sipalay City, Calatrava, San Enrique, Hinoba-an, Sagay City, Cauayan, Himamaylan City, Moises Padilla, Talisay City, Pulupandan, San Carlos City, Cadiz City, Toboso, Murcia, Bago, Pontevedra, La Carlota City, Kabankalan City, Escalante City, Victorias City, Candoni, Binalbagan, EB Magalona, Silay City, Don Salvador Benedicto, and Ilog;
* Iloilo province – Passi City, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, Zarraga, Calinog, San Rafael, Lambunao, Cabatuan, Balasan, Batad, Anilao, Dingle, Sara, Guimbal, New Lucena, Tubungan, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Leon, Igbaras, San Enrique, Pototan, Sta. Barbara, Banate, Mina, Oton, Tigbauan, Bingawan, Ajuy, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Maasin, Dumangas, Carles, Dueñas, and Leganes;
* Antique – Tibiao, Anini-y, Barbaza, Valderrama, Tobias Fornier, San Remegio, San Jose, Patnongon, Pandan, Hamtic, Sebaste, Caluya, Libertad, Culasi, Laua-an, Sibalom, and Belison;
* Capiz – Jamindan, Pilar, Dao, Pres. Roxas, Mambusao, Panitan, Dumarao, Cuartero, Dumalag, Panay, Sigma Tapaz, Maayon, Pontevedra, Sapian;
* Aklan – Altavas, Banga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Madalag, Malay, Nabas, Numancia, Tangalan, Malinao, and Libacao; and
* Guimaras – Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag./PN
