Cagayan’s agri damage from 4 typhoons reaches P1.4-B

TYPHOON AFTERMATH. Scattered debris everywhere in Cagayan province on Friday (Nov. 15, 2024) as series of typhoons battered Northern Luzon for over a month now. The agriculture sector is among the hardest hit with at least PHP1.4 billion estimated damage. (Photo courtesy of Cagayan Provincial Information Office)

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The province of Cagayan has recorded an initial P1.4 billion damage in agriculture from the series of weather disturbances that hit Northern Luzon in recent weeks.

Major crops like rice, corn, coconut, and bananas have been wiped out and around 30,900 homes were destroyed after Typhoon Julian (international name Krathon), Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami), Super Typhoon Leon (Kong-rey), and Typhoon Marce (Yinxing) hit northern Philippines since the last week of September.

Several roads, bridges, and schools were also damaged.

Governor Manuel Mamba, in an interview Friday, appealed to the private sector to extend their help to typhoon victims as the provincial government’s quick response fund is running out.

“Our problem is between now and the planting season because there’s nothing to harvest anymore. People are without work for the next three months. We really need the help of the private sector,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.

For now, Mamba said there is continuing provision of financial assistance and distribution of early maturing crops which can be harvested in 45 days as among the stopgap measures to aid typhoon-affected families.

He expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who visited the municipality of Buguey last Nov. 10, for the assurance of continued distribution of family food packs to the evacuation centers.

Vincent Abadilla, a farmer-entrepreneur in Alcala town, said all his crops could no longer be recovered after five consecutive weather disturbances inundated his farm and torn off his house’s roofing.

“Hirap na nga ang buhay pinapahirapan pa kami ng baha (Life is already hard and the flood is making us suffer),” said Abadilla, grateful that he was able to save some of his goats from drowning.

To date, the towns of Santa Ana, Santa Praxedes, and Claveria are still “totally blackout” due to severe damage of major power lines, while several roads and bridges are still not passable due to flooding and approach damage.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), immediate clearing operations and restoration of the damaged approach of a bridge in Barangay San Jose, Gonzaga town, which connects to the municipality of Santa Ana, is now ongoing.

The approach of the bridge collapsed on Thursday evening due to soil erosion from heavy rains brought by Super Typhoon Ofel (Usagi).