Region 2 farmers may resume planting — DA

The Department of Agriculture advised farmers to resume planting in Region 2 as the approaching typhoon “Betty” weakens and the agricultural workers there reported the rains nourished their plants after months of dry weather.

U-Nichols Manalo, DA director for field operation services, said the regional officials suspended planting activities in the area last week as they worried the rains would damage the seedlings.

However, he said farmers reported the rains reinvigorated their plants.

“The farmers said the rains benefited their plants which had been parched by the summer season,” Manalo said.

According to the weather bureau, “Betty” was approaching east of Aparri in Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometer per hour and gustiness of up to 190 km/h.

These were lower than the wind velocity of 175 km/h and gustiness of up to 215 km/h last Sunday when “Betty” moved toward Tuguegarao.

However, “Betty” is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing occasional rains over the western portions of Southern Luzon and the Visayas in the next few days. Authorities said the weather disturbance might start weakening on Thursday.

“Submissions of damage reports are being awaited from the local government units, but as of Monday, there have been no reported damage and losses in the agriculture and fisheries sector,” a DA report said.

It said farmers had already harvested rice worth P4.84 billion and corn worth P709 million last week in Regions 1, 2, 3, and 5 and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

If the typhoon strengthens, the DA said 232,833 hectares of rice fields or 49.16 percent of standing rice plants will be damaged. Meanwhile, a stronger typhoon will destroy 76,531 hectares of corn fields or 34.79 percent of standing corn plants.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 2 was raised in Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands.

A lower wind signal was announced in most areas of Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Ifugao.

Similar weather is expected in the northern and central portions of Aurora, Quirino, the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the northern portion of Catanduanes, the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur, Polillo Islands, the northern portion of Camarines Norte, and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur.