‘Butchoy’ leaves P43-M aggie losses in 2 provinces

KORONADAL CITY – Heavy rains caused by typhoon “Butchoy” destroyed at least P43 million worth of agricultural crops in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, reports said.

In Sultan Kudarat, provincial agriculturist Artemio Aguinaldo said five days of rainfall damaged 1.7 million metric tons of palay and corn valued at more than P3 million in Lambayong town.

Aguinaldo said Lambayong was the hardest hit by the swelling of the Allah River and its tributaries. Two barangays in Esperanza town were also affected.

In Sarangani, more than 100 families in Maitum and Kiamba fled their houses, while more than 100 hectares of high-value crops worth some P40 million were destroyed in the two towns, provincial interior and local government officer Flor Limpin said. – Ramil Bajo