Agri damage due to Taal hits P3 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture due to the Taal Volcano explosion has reached P3.06 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The figure covers 15,790 hectares of agricultural lands with production losses at 43,772 metric tons (MT), data from the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operation Center showed.

Affected commodities include rice, corn, coffee, coconut, cacao, banana, pineapple and other fruits and high value crops.

Damage to the fisheries sub-sector represented 52.3 percent of the total at P1.6 billion, affecting 6,000 fish cages for tilapia and bangus.

Pineapple plantations reported losses of P527.25 million affecting 21,079 MT covering 862 hectares. Silang in Cavite was the most affected followed by General Trias and Amadeo.

Coffee production, particularly in Silang and Amadeo, was also affected with losses reaching P360.5 million, damaging 4,309 hectares with 8,240 MT of produce.

Coconut production in Batangas incurred P188-million losses, covering some 8,700 hectares. Banana industry losses amounted to P138.59 million, involving 7,330 MT of banana covering 821 hectares.

Assorted fruits and vegetables also incurred damage worth P124.13 million with 1,453 MT loss affecting 197 hectares mostly in Tanauan, Batangas.

Corn production loss was placed at P88.9 million, comprising 5,329 MT and covering 539.3 hectares. Hardest hit were Lemery and San Nicolas in Batangas.