In Bicol, ‘Enteng’ agri losses breach P350M

CANAL CLEARING A farmer in Magarao, Camarines Sur province, clears assorted debris along irrigation canals after Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi) hit parts of Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions on Sunday. The National Irrigation Administration in Bicol has started cleanup activities to prevent clogging and ensure water flow in its canals. —Photo courtesy of NIA Region V

LIGAO CITY, ALBAY, Philippines — Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi) left over P350-million worth of agriculture losses in Bicol as widespread flooding caused by heavy rains submerged farmlands in the region on Sunday.

Lovella Guarin, Department of Agriculture Bicol information officer, told the Inquirer in a private message on Wednesday that 13,623 farmers and fisherfolk in the region had been affected by the storm, with production losses estimated at 14,814 metric tons (MT) spanning 8,893 hectares of land planted to rice and vegetables.

“We will provide all resources (to affected farmers). The buffer stock of seeds for rice, corn and vegetables is always ready and available. Farmers need to report their losses to municipal agriculture offices,” Guarin said.

READ: Storm Enteng exits PAR; ‘habagat’ rains to persist

She said Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. could assist farmers through crop insurance claims.

Rice was mostly affected by Enteng, comprising 94.93 percent or P333.08 million of the total damage. It wiped out 13,887 MT of rice produce covering 8,513 hectares of land, mostly in reproductive and maturity stages.

Corn (P14.01 million) and high-value crops (P3.76 million) incurred losses as well. Among farmlands damaged by the storm were planted to eggplant, squash, ampalaya, okra, pole sitao, tomato, hot pepper, bottle gourd, pechay and cucumber.

According to Gaudencio de Vera, regional manager of the National Irrigation Administration regional office, clearing and desilting work for irrigation canals is in progress to prevent disruption of water flow after the storm.

Before Enteng entered the country, the agriculture sector posted P4.73 billion in losses last month due to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon (habagat) and Supertyphoon Carina (international name: Gaemi).

Moreover, the extreme heat and lack of rain caused by the El Niño phenomenon resulted in the sector recording losses worth P9.89 billion in June.