‘Juaning’ death toll rises to 41

Tropical Storm “Juaning” damaged an estimated P199.4 million worth of crops, mostly in the Bicol region, while the death toll climbed to 41 as of Friday.

The Department of Agriculture reported that some 21,761 hectares of agriculture lands were affected in Central Luzon, Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), and Bicol regions as of July 28.

In the Bicol region, Juaning destroyed P110.83 million worth of agricultural crops, the DA regional office said.

Damage to infrastructure was estimated at P1.2 billion.

Rice production sustained the bulk of the damage with roughly 1,485 metric tons of palay valued at P119.98 million lost from 20,614 hectares of farmlands.

“The losses in rice production, which only occurred in Region V (Bicol), is very negligible, only 0.04 percent to the July to September 2011 national production forecast and 0.56 percent to the regional targets,” the DA said in the report.

The DA also said that majority of the affected rice areas—roughly 17,762 hectares—were still recoverable since the crops were still in its planting and vegetative stage.

But the DA noted that the rains brought by Juaning could benefit rice farms in other regions lacking water.

“If the Pagasa rainfall forecast for the major river basins of Agno, Cagayan, and Pampanga holds for the next 24 hours and if the weather bureau observed swamp or river basin water level trends continue, then we do not expect to see heavy production losses in rice,” the DA said.

Around 718 hectares with 256 tons of corn valued at P3.8 million were also affected in Bicol.

Affected veggies

But the DA said the affected corn areas account for less than 0.1 percent of the national corn production target and 0.73 percent of the regional production target.

The damage sustained by high-value commercial crops reached P14.35 million with more than 429 hectares affected—mostly vegetables.

The total damage to irrigation facilities hit P60.25 million.

Bicol officials have asked the national government for help in speeding up search and rescue work, and aid delivery, said its executive director Benito Ramos.

Rescuers found six more dead in the Bicol region and in the mountainous north over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 41. But 24 people remain still missing.

Hardest hit

Bernardo Alejandro, head of the Office of Civil Defense Bicol (OCD-Bicol) and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC), said that Albay had the highest number of fatalities at 12, followed by Catanduanes (six), Camarines Norte (six), Camarines Sur (five), Masbate (two) and Sorsogon (one).

In Masbate, the Philippine Coast Guard recovered on Friday morning off a coastal village in Mandaon town the body of a fisherman believed to be one of the 19 fishermen still missing after their fishing boat capsized off Sibuyan Sea on Monday.

In Camarines Norte, Governor Edgardo Tallado  said three fishermen lost at sea at the height of Juaning were rescued on Friday off the waters of Mercedes town.

The three survivors, who were identified as Jerico Aceron, “Moymoy” Vega and “Speed” Sureta, all residents of Sabang village in Vinzons town, told rescuers they ate raw fish and drank rainwater to survive their three-day ordeal at sea.

Three fishermen from Albay province were also rescued Wednesday morning on the shores of Palapag town in Northern Samar.

Amancio Unay, head of the Northern Samar provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO), said the fishermen got lost at the height of the storm on Wednesday.

Unay identified the rescued fishermen as Emer Balmaseda, 23, Elmer Abad, 37, and Salvador Dongaran, 32, all residents of Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

He said the fishermen were half-conscious when found by residents on the shores of Palapag, 60 km east of Catarman.

They were brought immediately to the Palapag Rural Health Unit, where they received medical treatment.

In the worst-hit province of Albay, Governor Joey Salceda estimated the damage to agriculture and infrastructure at P1.02 billion due to floods, mudflows and landslides.

He said the damage to roads, bridges, dikes and irrigation canals reached P951 million while P70.4 million worth of rice, corn and vegetables crops and livestock were destroyed.

In Marinduque,  a prolonged power shortage looms in the province, which have been experiencing eight-hour to 16-hour brownouts.

Landslides in Cebu

In Cebu City, 14 families were evacuated after landslides hit four villages in the city following heavy rains on Wednesday night.

The landslides hit barangays Guadalupe, Kalunasan, Sapangdaku and Toong.

Brownouts also hit several areas in Cebu and Talisay cities after strong winds and rains toppled the electric posts of the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco). With reports from Mar Arguelles, Gerald Gene Querubin and Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Jhunnex Napallacan and Rachel Arnaiz, Inquirer Visayas, and AFP