BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Losses in the agriculture sector in Negros Occidental due to the onslaught of tropical storm “Dante” last week rose to P16.7 million, with 971 farmers affected as of yesterday.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said the number represents 886.83 hectares of high value crop farms, rice and corn fields in 86 barangays of five cities and seven towns in the province.
The rice sector incurred the highest losses at P15.61 million, with Hinoba-an the hardest hit town with the destruction of P3.5 million of rice in barangays Asia, Bulwangan, Culipapa, Talagacay, Bacuyangan, San Rafael, Damutan, Sangke, and Daug, Masculino said.
In Bago City, considered the rice granary of Negros Occidental, the affected rice fields are in barangays Bacong, Binubuhan, Ilijan, Mailum, Ma-ao, Balingasag, Sampinit, Calumanggan, Taloc, Dulao, Abuanan, Malingin, Atipuluan, and Busay, he said.
Masculino added that the rice fields in barangays Luna, Caduhaan, Burgos, Bonifacio, VF Gustilo, Cadiz Viejo, Villacin, Magsaysay, and Sacaba in Cadiz City, barangays X, XII, XIV, and XX in Victorias City, Canlunsong, Gahit, and Alacaygan in EB Magalona, Pandan and Don Salvador Benedicto in Pontevedra, and Montilla, Quintin Remo, Odiong, Magallon Cadre, and Guinampa-an in Valladolid were also destroyed.
Other rice fields destroyed were in barangays Santol, Payao, Bi-ao, and Canromos in Binalbagan, Cansolongon, Guintubhan, Camangcamang, Mansablay, Camp Clark, and Banogbanog in Isabela, and barangays II, III, IV, To-oy, Caradio-an, Buenavista, Cabadiangan, Carabalan, Libacao, Nabalian, and Mambagaton in Himamaylan, the OPA reported.
Another P1 million in damage was reported in the corn industry, particularly in Barangay Bagroy in Binalbagan, and barangays Camangcamang and Guintubdan in Isabela. High-value crops, worth P86,725, were also destroyed in barangays Burgos and VF Gustilo in Cadiz City, the OPA added.*
