Ambo agriculture damage hits P1.56 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture in areas hit by Typhoon Ambo has ballooned to P1.56 billion.

The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center yesterday reported that 28,476 hectares of agricultural land and 45,430 farmers were affected in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Mimaropa and the Cordilleras.

High-value crops suffered the biggest loss at P1.13 billion or 73 percent of the damage.

At least 13,181 hectares of rice fields and 12,021 metric tons of produce valued at P239 million were affected.

Damage to the corn sector, which affected 7,215 hectares, was valued at P126 million.

Rice and corn sectors in Camarines Sur incurred the biggest loss.

Damage to the fisheries sector was valued at P41 million and affected 2,644 fisherfolk. Most of the damage was recorded in Leyte and Northern Samar.

Damage to livestock was estimated at P23 million. Leyte was hardest hit.

The DA said 416,732 MT of rice valued at P7 billion and 211,827 MT of corn worth P2.2 billion were saved due to its early harvest advisory.

The DA said it has a standby fund of P700 million for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

Power sector

Meanwhile, the power sector incurred P170 million in damage, according to the National Electrification Administration.

The NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD) said electric cooperatives in Quezon, Marinduque, Sorsogon, Masbate, Western Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar were affected.

The Northern Samar Electric Cooperative Inc. incurred the biggest damage at P72.944 million, followed by Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative Inc. at P55 million, Quezon I Electric Cooperative Inc., P23.729 million and Samar I Electric Cooperative Inc., P6.476 million.

NEA-DRRMD said 11 electric cooperatives resumed normal operations on Tuesday.

Restoration works in areas being serviced by electric cooperatives in Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Quezon, Samar and Northern Samar are ongoing. Danessa Rivera