Pampanga incurs P470 million agricultural damage

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Philippines — Agricultural crops estimated to be worth up to P470 million have been destroyed by the bad weather in Pampanga, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office.

Provincial disaster officials yesterday said the amount of damage is expected to increase in the coming days as some local government units have yet to submit data regarding the effects of the floods and heavy rainfall in their areas.

Of the damaged crops, rice or palay accounted for a majority of the losses with P143.33 million.

The town of Apalit reported the highest amount of damage to palay with P46.22 million followed by Candaba with P30.35 million and Arayat, P27.64 million.

Damage to high-value crops in Candaba, Mabalacat and Porac reached P7 million, officials said.

The province’s fishery sector incurred losses amounting to P318.72 million, with Minalin reporting the highest damage with P225.10 million followed by Macabebe with P55.43 million and Masantol, P26.81 million.

Damage to infrastructure was reported at P170 million, particularly on dikes and slope protection structure in Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat and Mexico.

Livestock and egg production suffered losses amounting to P3.40 million.

As this developed, the provincial government has declared a state of calamity to hasten the release of funds that will be utilized to assist displaced people and repair damage to infrastructure.

Up to 160,891 families or 527,648 people in 224 villages and 18 local government units have been affected by floods and heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, in Bulacan, disaster officials have recommended placing Bocaue, Balagtas, Calumpit, Guiguinto and Meycauayan under a state of calamity.

Gov. Daniel Fernando said the provincial government is not yet pushing for the declaration of a province-wide state of calamity as local government units have been serving effectively in responding to the emergency.

The provincial government said that damage to agriculture has reached P56.6 million while the livestock, poultry and fishery sectors have incurred losses amounting to P436,000. – Ramon Efren Lazaro