BACOLOD CITY — Floods due to monsoon rains brought PHP4.63 million in damage to agro-fishery in Negros Occidental, a latest report of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed.
The assessment covered the period January 12 to 15, following heavy rains in the province in the past few days.
In Cadiz City alone, damage and production losses were pegged at PHP2.86 million.
The figure includes, among others, PHP1.43 million in damage to 75.2 hectares of rice farms; PHP1.25 million, to eight hectares of high-value commercial crops (HVCCs); and PHP180,000 worth of damage to boats and fishing gears.
In Victorias City, the damage was pegged at PHP1.77 million, affecting 240 hectares of rice farms.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said farmers enrolled under the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance could file for indemnity claims.
Meanwhile, losses brought by Tropical Storm Agaton to crops and fishery in Negros Occidental reached PHP16.8 million as of January 15, a separate OPA report showed.
Floods brought by Agaton in the first week of January damaged rice and HVCCs in the province.
Bago City, dubbed the province’s rice bowl for its vast rice plantations, reported total losses of about PHP14.23 million.
Cadiz City posted PHP696,160 in rice damage and PHP168,360 in HVCC production losses.
E.B. Magalona town incurred PHP44,370 in damage to rice plantation.
Based on the OPA report, affected were a total of 430 farmers, who planted about 644 hectare farms in 25 barangays in the three local government units.
Meanwhile, the fishery sector suffered PHP1.68 million in damage and production losses.
A total of 193 fisherfolk and an association were affected, reporting damage to 834 units of fishing gears and equipment such as fishing boats, gill nets, corals, and fish cages.
Affected were those in the cities of Escalante, Bago and Sipalay, and municipalities of Manapla and E.B. Magalona. (PNA)
