More rains seen as Falcon approaches

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Falcon is forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility between tonight and tomorrow morning and may trigger monsoon rains starting today, according to state weather forecasters.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Falcon (international name Khanun) may intensify into a typhoon today.

The cyclone was monitored 1,365 km east of Eastern Visayas as of 3 p.m. yesterday and was moving westward at 15 kph and carrying maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Even as the cyclone intensifies in the next few days, PAGASA said it is unlikely that tropical cyclone wind signals will be raised over any part of the country. Falcon will reach its peak intensity by late Monday or Tuesday.

PAGASA warned that Falcon may enhance the southwest monsoon that will trigger occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon and the Visayas. The extent and timing of the monsoon enhancement and rainfall may still change depending on the movement of the cyclone.

The monsoon is still being enhanced by Typhoon Egay and will continue to bring significant amounts of rain in the next few days.

Around 50-100 mm of rain is forecast over Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro and the northern portions of Palawan, according to PAGASA.

Occasional rains are forecast over Pangasinan, Occidental Mindoro and Northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands.

Meanwhile, cloudy skies with scattered rains are expected over Metro Manila, the Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, CALABARZON, the rest of Ilocos Region, the rest of Central Luzon and the rest of MIMAROPA, Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

The trough of the storm will also bring scattered rainshowers over Mindanao while the rest of Luzon may see isolated rainshowers.

Agriculture damage

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has pegged the initial damage to the agriculture sector by Typhoon Egay at P512.9 million.

The agency said the damage and losses were reported in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Regions IV A and B, the Caraga Region, Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas.

Based on reports from its regional field offices (RFOs), the typhoon has affected at least 51,926 farmers and 58,104 hectares of agricultural areas, with volume of production loss at 19,488 metric tons (MT).

The corn sector registered the highest amount of damage at P358.4 million, with 39,825 hectares affected and 14,990 MT in volume losses. The rice sector incurred P152.5 million worth of damage with 18,264 hectares affected and 4,489 MT lost.

Meanwhile, the livestock and poultry sector lost 274 heads of chicken, swine, cattle, carabao and goat valued at P1.6 million.

The DA said it expects losses to increase in the areas affected by Egay as it conducts assessment in the agriculture and fishery sectors, in coordination with national government agencies, local government units and disaster risk reduction and management offices.

Earlier, the agency said the impact of the typhoon may be experienced in CAR, Region I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, and V. It estimated 944,894 hectares of agricultural areas could be affected, with 625,703 hectares for rice and 319,191 hectares for corn.

According to the DA, affected farmers can avail of at least P25,000 loan under the Survival and Recovery loan program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.

At least P1-billion Quick Response Fund is also available for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

Meanwhile, the retail prices of vegetables started to go up amid the devastation brought by Egay to the agriculture sector.

Based on the latest monitoring of the DA, the retail prices of potatoes reached as high as P200 per kilo compared to P150 per kilo on July 26.

Other retail prices of vegetables include carrots (P260 per kilo) chili (P200) cabbage (P160), pechay Tagalog (P150), ginger (P140), string beans (P130), Baguio beans (P120), eggplant (P120), tomatoes (P120), calamansi (P100), chayote (P80) and squash (P60).

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokespersonn Kristine Evangelista assured the public of enough supply of vegetables despite the damage brought by Egay. Evangelista said the DA continues to monitor at least 13 wet markets in Metro Manila to make sure that the price adjustments are reasonable.

Following the declaration of Ilocos Norte, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Sur also approved a resolution declaring their province under a state of calamity due to Egay.

Ilocos Sur Governor Jerry Singson signed the resolution based on the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to place the province under state of calamity due to flooding, destruction of infrastructure projects, agriculture and private properties.

Singson said the Quirino Bridge in Bantay town was destroyed by floodwaters. He added that most of the affected residents were still in evacuation centers.

In Bataan, Balanga City and the municipalities of Orani, Hermosa, Samal, Abucay, Pilar and Dinalupihan were affected by flashfloods brought by intermittent moderate to heavy rains triggered by Egay on Thursday. — Jun Elias, Ric Sapnu, Bella Cariaso, Cesar Ramirez, Danessa Rivera, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Richmond Mercurio, Emmanuel Tupas