Bad weather costs Zambo P155.6M in agri products

Rains and flooding throughout the week have caused P155.6 million in damage to agriculture and fisheries in Zamboanga City.

Bad weather brought by Tropical Storm Paolo has also caused P20 million in damage to infrastructure.

City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the incessant rain inundated a total of 2,651.24 hectares of rice and corn fields and vegetable farms as well as fishponds and seaweed farms in 23 barangays.

Crop damage has been estimated at P114 million while damage to fish and seaweed farms has been estimated at P41.6 million.

Palacat said flooding had receded by Friday evening, revealing damage across the city.

“The damages incurred are beyond recovery,” Palacat said, adding 2,499 farmers had been affected by the bad weather.

He said the city agriculture office is working on providing them assistance. The city government early this week declared the city under the state of calamity.

Meanwhile, big waves flattened more than a dozen houses in seaside villages in Kalamansig town in Sultan Kudarat province in central Mindanao on Saturday.

Dozens of families were forced to relocate to public gymnasiums in upland barangays in Kalamansig, the province's fishing capital.

Mayor Ronan Garcia yesterday said that worst hit by big waves from the Moro Gulf are Barangays Risan Talisay and Poblacion in the town proper of Kalamansig. Central Mindanao has been experiencing heavy rains and strong winds since Friday morning.