ILOILO City – Around 10,023 Western Visayas farmers lost an initial of P262,584,425.69 worth of crops to Tropical Storm “Paeng”.
Data from the Department of Agriculture Region 6 (DA-6) showed that as of Oct. 31, majority of the production losses are rice amounting to P262,166,145.69 involving 10,171.58 metric tons from 14,269.28 hectares of rice fields; while for high-value crops, the total worth of damage is P418,280.
Data further showed that of the 14,269.28 hectares of rice fields affected, 2,638.33 have no chance of recovery or are totally damaged, while 11,630.95 hectares are partially damaged.
Iloilo province incurred the biggest damage amounting to P103.4 million and affecting 4,763 farmers.
Here is the breakdown of the city and municipalities and their reported worth of damage in agriculture: Passi City (P25.9 million), Anilao (P25.7 million), Dingle (P16.1 million), Balasan (P8.3 million), San Rafael (P8.3 million), Lemery (P8.2 million), Batad (P3.3 million), Lambunao (P3.1 million), Calinog (P2.6 million), Barotac Viejo (P969,55.27), Zarraga (P509,425), and Cabatuan (P220,150).
The province of Capiz has the second highest production loss amounting to P66.7 million, followed by Antique – P63.2 million; Negros Occidental – P27.6 million; and Aklan – P1.7 million.
In Capiz, the affected towns were Jamindan, with P1.3 million worth of crops damaged; Pilar – P2.7 million; Dao – P23.3 million; President Roxas – P459,962.69; and Mambusao – P38.9 million.
Meanwhile, the municipalities in Antique with reported agricultural damage were Tibiao, worth P141,533.38; Anini-y – P477,715.01; Barbaza – P4.3 million; Valderrama – P297,596.67; Tobias Fornier – P254,640; San Remigio – P833,400; San Jose – P11.4 million; and Patnongon – P45.4 million.
In Negros Occidental, agriculture damages were recorded in Valladolid worth P7.2 million; Sipalay – P1.9 million; Calatrava – P8.7 million; San Enrique – P637,981.05; Hinoba-an – P583,830; Sagay City – P122,660.50; Cauayan – P56,622; Himamaylan City – P1.9 million; Moises Padilla – P2.6 million; Talisay City – P136,900; Pulupandan – P533,904; San Carlos City – P589,925; Capiz City – P2.4 million; and Toboso – P285,800.
On the other hand, in Aklan, damages in the agriculture sector were reported in Altavas with P401,747; Banga – P2,240; Ibajay – P30,320; Kalibo – 25,040; Lezo – P182,700; Madalag – P100,080; Malay – P48,960; Nabas – P588,123.64; Numancia – P15,000; and Tangalan – P271,400.
DA-6 regional information officer Earl James Ogatis said they are now consolidating available rice and vegetable seeds to be allocated to affected provinces.
“We are reminding affected farmers to report all their agricultural losses to their respective municipal agriculture offices, specifically those insured with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, to fast-track their indemnity claims,” said Ogatis.
He added that DA-6 personnel are in close coordination with the local government units in validating reports to determine the extent of damage and include them in the rehabilitation plan./PN
