‘Ambo’ leaves ₱79.9-M damage to Bicol’s agriculture
Tropical storm “Ambo” (international name: “Vongfong”) has left an estimated ₱79.9 million worth of damage to crops and livestock in Bicol Region, according to the initial report of the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office.
The cyclone did not directly hit the entire region as initially projected but some parts, particularly Masbate and Sorsogon, were not spared.
DA Bicol Regional Executive Director Rodel Tornilla reported that the affected area in the six provinces was approximately 3,885 hectares with a total production loss of 4,564 metric tons.
Corn registered the highest losses of 3,365 metric tons from 2,616 hectares damaged farms with production loss estimated at ₱52 million.
Meanwhile, rice recorded an initial production loss of 1,149 metric tons from 1,067 hectares partially damaged rice areas with production loss recorded at ₱17.5 million.
For high value crops, such as fruits and vegetables, 201 hectares were damaged with production loss of 48 metric tons amounting to ₱10.01 million.
The initial damage on livestock was estimated at ₱101,500.
DA-Bicol Region said Masbate incurred the biggest loss in agriculture initially totaling ₱36.9 million.
A total of 1,124 hectares of corn areas in the province have been damaged with production loss of 994 metric tons amounting to ₱16.8 million.
Rice farms in Masbate also suffered partial damages as 1,057 hectares were affected with production loss of 1,141 metric tons valued at ₱17.4 million.
Meanwhile, Camarines Sur incurred an initial P33.1 million losses in corn alone, covering 1,379 hectares. The volume of production loss was recorded at 2,225 metric tons.
Albay followed with ₱4.5-million initial total production loss in corn, high-value crops, and livestock. A total of 144 hectares of corn areas were damaged with production loss of 144 metric tons amounting to ₱2.06 million, and for high value crops an initial 115 hectares were damaged with production loss of 31 metric tons amounting to ₱2.5 million.
Catanduanes reported an initial 15 hectares of high-value crops damaged, with production loss of 1.94 metric tons amounting to ₱2.5 million; Camarines Norte with 6.69 hectares of corn with production loss of 1.03 metric tons amounting to ₱85,450.00; and Sorsogon with 54 hectares of rice and corn with production loss totaling ₱2.6 million.