BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Losses in agro-fisheries and livestock products due to severe flooding in various areas of Negros Occidental over the weekend and on Jan. 1 had reached P53.6 million, as of yesterday.
The agriculture sector incurred the biggest loss at P44.9 million, with 654.24 hectares of rice fields destroyed in six towns and cities of the province, a January 6-11 report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed.
42 BARANGAYS AFFECTED
The floods affected 919 rice farmers from 42 barangays in Sagay, Cadiz, Talisay, Silay, Manapla, and Valladolid, and P15.2 million in losses incurred.
A total of 49.2 hectares of cornfields in 15 barangays of Sagay City were flattened and affected 58 farmers when flood hit these areas over the weekend while there were no reported losses in the corn industry during the New Year flood.
The destruction of high value crops (HVCs) over the weekend was also higher compared to the losses in the January 1 flooding.
Some P6.6 million of HVCs were destroyed over the weekend and affected 247 farmers from Escalante, Talisay, and Silay while losses to HVCs in the first flooding incident stood at P840,000 and affected 32 farmers in Sagay, covering a total area of 4.2 hectares.
FISHERIES, TOO
The losses in the fisheries sector stood at P7.5 million, affecting fishponds in Cadiz, San Carlos, Sagay, and EB Magalona.
The livestock industry reported P8.6 million in losses, affecting 77 barangays in 12 towns and cities, including Talisay, Victorias, Sagay, Escalante, Silay, Bago, La Carlota, Pontevedra, Valladolid, EB Magalona, Pulupandan, and San Enrique.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said they will provide veterinary medicines, drugs, and biologics to affected residents starting next week. Decena said they will also provide free range chickens to qualified beneficiaries.*
