R50M crop losses from typhoon

BACOLOD CITY – Production losses in Negros Occidental due to Typhoon Paolo last week reached R50.23 million, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said.

Based on OPA’s final report on Thursday, agricultural and fishery losses came up to R50,230,557 as of yesterday. The storm also hit eight municipalities in the central and southern part of the province, covering 1,982.33 hectares and affecting 1,648 farmers.

The affected municipalities are Bago City and the towns of Binalbagan, Valladolid, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, San Enrique, La Castellana and Pontevedra.

Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said local agriculturists in the affected areas were validating the damage, and he advised the farmers to list up for assistance.

Bago had the highest crop damage with R23,051,052.70 which affected 755.99 hectares of rice, corn and high value commercial crops of 461 farmers in 17 barangays of the city.

Valladolid had R14,200,155 in damage to 501.29 hectares of ricelands of 342 farmers in 14 barangays, and Pontevedra had R8,258,400 worth of damage in 382 hectares of rice lands of 373 farmers in 12 barangays.

Hinigiran, La Castellana and Moises Padilla also acquired more than a million worth of damage with R1.776, 917.25, R1,157,921.4 and R1,035,272.24 as rice, corn and high value crops lost.

Binalbagan had R206,665 Enrique has R68,304.

Three LGUs also reported R475,880 in losses to fishery, affecting 21 fisherfolk. The report did not identify the towns or cities that were affected. (Mark L. Garcia) and San