Damage to agriculture due to floods in Negros at P44.5M

Heavy rains and widespread flooding in Negros Occidental have resulted in an estimated P44,498,871 in damage to agriculture, affecting 1,784 farmers across 1,385 hectares of rice, high-value crops, and corn, data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, showed.

Rice farmers sustained P28.57 million in losses, followed by corn at P12.17 million, high-value crops at P2.88 million, and livestock and poultry at P865,400.

The flooding also destroyed 41 houses and 308 damaged.

The continuous rain affected 47,444 families, or 178,781 individuals, in Negros Occidental.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units have extended assistance totaling P22.58 million to 47,444 families or 178,781 individuals in 201 barangays in the province.

Affected LGUs were Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, San Enrique, Valladolid, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Candoni, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Kabankalan City, Sipalay City, Don Salvador Benedicto, Bacolod City, and La Castellana.

Seven seaports in Negros Island Region (NIR), including Negros Oriental and Siquijor were affected.

As of Tuesday, no passengers were stranded.

The OCD-NIR is expecting that damage from the calamity could rise with reports from the different local government units continue to come in.*