BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Losses in livestock and agro-fisheries due to heavy flooding in the third district of Negros Occidental had already reached P20 million, as of yesterday.
Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Renante Decena, reported P3.5-million worth of damage to livestock in 12 barangays in the cities of Talisay and Victorias.
Affected areas in Victorias City include barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 17, 19-A, and 20, while Barangay Zone 3 is the lone area in Talisay that incurred losses in livestock, Decena said.
Brgy. 7 in Victorias City was also badly hit, and recorded P971,150 in losses, followed by barangays 19-A and 1, with P792,100 and P593,950 in damages, respectively.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist also reported that damage to crops and fishery products in the third district rose to P16.5 million.
The rice sector incurred the highest losses at about P11.6 million, covering 669.65 hectares of rice farms in 19 barangays of Sagay, Cadiz, Victorias, Silay, and E.B. Magalona, and affecting 1,263 farmers.
A loss of P840,000 was reported by 32 high value crop farmers in Sagay City covering a total area of 4.2 hectares. The OPA also reported P4.1 million in damage to fishponds that affected the bangus (milk fish) production and also six fish producers in three barangays of E.B. Magalona, with combined production areas of 54 hectares.*
