Bicol agriculture lost almost P600M due to floods, landslides

Heavy rains brought by Tropical Depression “Usman” floods Buhi town, Camarines Sur. BUHI MUNICIPAL POLICE

LEGAZPI CITY — Agriculture in the Bicol region suffered losses equivalent to almost P600 million after Tropical Depression “Usman,” dumped heavy rains over Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas last weekend, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol said in a report.

Emelia Bordado, DA spokesperson, said on Friday that initial losses to agriculture in the region were placed at P596.3 million.

Usman triggered the floods and landslides which affected 31,000 hectares of farmlands in Bicol.

Of this figure, 12,000 hectares were totally destroyed and 19,000 hectares partially destroyed with a chance of recovery, Bordado said.

The DA report said the rice sector had the biggest loss with P514 million equivalent to 16,331 metric tons of palay.

Corn followed with P27.5 million, then high-value crops with P40 million, livestock with P12.7 million and fisheries with P871,050 losses.