Cagayan agri, Infra damage due to Quiel hits P1.8 billion

TUGUEGARAO CITY,  Cagayan, Philippines — Damage to agriculture and infrastructure in this province due to tropical storm Quiel amounted to P1.8 billion, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

A PDRRMO report showed that P1.63 billion worth of infrastructure facilities and P200 million in crops and livestock were damaged by the storm.

At least 217 barangays in 16 towns  were inundated by floodwaters, leaving around 40,000 families or 133,914 individuals displaced. Twenty-three houses were destroyed.

Authorities said total damage and losses to agriculture due to Quiel amounted to P385.19 million. At least 3,706 hectares of agricultural land and 3,119 farmers were affected.

More than 17,000 metric tons of rice, corn, high-value crops and fisheries were destroyed.

The Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Credit Policy Council is coordinating with DA regional field offices to provide loans to affected farmers and fisherfolk.

Ramil Tuppil, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration resident meteorologist, warned residents against landslides as tropical storm Ramon hits land, noting that the soil has loosened due to heavy rains spawned by Quiel in the past week.

BFAR donates boats

In Occidental Mindoro, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) distributed boats to fishermen affected by Quiel.

A tidal wave damaged fishing boats in the province.

The BFAR gave 30 units of 20-foot fiberglass-reinforced plastic boats with fishing accessories and 6.5-horsepower engine to fisherfolk in Paluan town.

 Boat-construction materials, such as plywood, epoxy and nails, for the repair of damaged boats below three gross tons were also provided by the municipal government and BFAR.