Agaton agricultural damage balloons to P1.4 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to the agriculture sector in areas battered by Tropical Storm Agaton has increased to P1.4 billion.

In its latest bulletin, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center said 17,384 hectares of agricultural land were affected, with production loss at 35,258 metric tons.

Up to  23,188 farmers and fishermen were affected.

Western Visayas, particularly Capiz, was hardest  hit, with agricultural damage amounting to P956 million.

Fisheries accounted for 54 percent of the damage, with P763.3 million in produce, boats, gears and engines affected.

Damage to the rice sector was placed at P595.6 million; high-value crops, P30 million; corn, P21.4 million, and livestock and poultry, P7.2 million.

The DA said P663 million worth of assistance would be provided to affected farmers and fisherfolk.

Of the amount, P500 million under the quick response fund is immediately available for the rehabilitation of affected areas.

Search, rescue ops stopped

Meanwhile, search, rescue and retrieval operations for Agaton victims have been stopped in some areas in Baybay, Leyte to ensure the safety of rescue teams.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said members of the Incident Management Team continued with its operations in Barangay Abuyog yesterday, but retrieval efforts in Barangays Mailhi and Bunga have been stopped.

The NDRRMC said retrieval operations would continue in Barangay Kantagnos.

Baybay is among the areas hardest hit by the storm.

Death toll hits 175

The NDRRMC said the death toll was placed at 175 yesterday with 110 persons still missing.

Reports from the Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas said the number of fatalities has reached 179.

The NDRRMC said 40,764 families or 149,466 people remain in 715 evacuation centers.

As of yesterday, 17 towns and cities were under a state of calamity. –  Michael Punongbayan, Robertzon Ramirez