Odette ruins P40 M crops in Cagayan

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – At least P40 million worth of crops were damaged by Typhoon Odette in the Cagayan region.

Resty Vargas, officer-in-charge of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council (PDRRMC), said that among the crops, ready-to-harvest palay incurred the most damage.

“Many farmers were not able to harvest their palay before the typhoon struck. We are looking for some ways to help our affected farmers,” Vargas said.

The amount of damaged crops in the province, he said, is expected to climb as they are still assessing the damage.  

The typhoon affected some 3,000 families or 14,000 individuals while hundreds were stranded in ports in Aparri and Santa Ana towns.

Meanwhile, a C-130 aircraft loaded with relief goods arrived yesterday in Batanes, the hardest hit by Odette. Power in the island province has yet to be restored.

Batanes Gov. Vicente Gato said Odette toppled trees and was the most powerful storm that battered the province in many years.

Ilocos Norte was placed under a state of calamity. Reports said the province lost at least P34 million in damaged crops, as well as in fisheries and livestock.

Aside from Laoag City, the capital of Ilocos Norte, the towns of Bangui, Solsona, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Piddig, Paoay, Banna, Marcos, Nueva Era and Pasuquin were hard-hit by the typhoon.