MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture in areas hit by Tropical Depression Usman climbed to P195.36 million as of Sunday afternoon.
Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operation Center showed that damage to rice crops alone is at P177.4 million, state-run Philippine News Agency reported.
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Damage to rice crops is pegged at 7,352 metric tons in potential volume production loss over 8,844 hectares of farmland in Quezon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes Sorsogon and Samar.
An estimated 6,318 rice farmers have been affected by the tropical depression, the report read.
Meanwhile, damage to corn has reached P976,267 with volume production loss of 11 metric tons in Albay, Camarines Sur and Masbate.
Damage to high-value crops, such as fruit trees, assorted vegetables and root crops, is at P16.97 million with 1,132 metric tons volume production loss.
A total of 428 hectares and 1,277 farmers of high-value crops have been affected in Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate and Sorsogon.
As of Sunday afternoon, at least 61 casualties have been reported while 18 persons are still missing and 12 are reported injured. Most of the reported casualties are from Bicol, one of the most affected regions.
The weather disturbance has left the country's territory but will still continue to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Luzon. Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboards of the Visayas due to the northeast monsoon or "amihan." — Patricia Lourdes Viray