BACOLOD CITY – The value of the damage to crops, fisheries and livestock in Negros Occidental, due to the recent heavy rains induced by the shearline and northeast monsoon, has increased further to P22,683,928, as of February 5, according to reports of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Veterinary Office.
Based on reports of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the PDRMMO said losses to crops and fisheries was placed at P16,300,02.59, while damage to the livestock sector was pegged by the Provincial Veterinary Office at P6,383,846.
The fisheries sector took the hardest hit, with damage reaching P10,901,430 across the province.
According to reports of the PDRRMO which was submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, 444 rice farmers, who are tilling 236.74 hectares of land, were affected by the flooding.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana attributed the recent drowning and deaths of 3,110 swine, cattle, carabao, goat, poultry, duck, horse and gamefowl, to the flooding that hit northern Negros, especially the cities of Sagay, Escalante, and Silay, as well as the towns of Toboso and Calatrava, affecting 241 households.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that due to the shearline and northeast monsoon, rains over in Negros Occidental may last until Friday. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)