'Odette' ruins P1M worth of crops

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - Heavy rains caused by typhoon "Odette" has damaged about P1 million worth of rice crops in Negros Occidental.

In his report to Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., provincial agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan said persistent rains have affected 35.8 hectares of rice plantations across the province. Damage is estimated P1,099,000.

The rice plantations are in the cities of La Carlota - 3.25 hectares, Cadiz - 12 hectares and San Carlos - 5.5 hectares and the towns of Pulupandan - 4.90 hectares, Hinobaan - 2 hectares, Pontevedra - 4.40 hectares, La Castellana - 2.75 hectares and Moises Padilla - 1 hectare.

Fortunately, the crops are insured under the Negros First Universal Crop Insurance Program, Tabianan said.

Last Friday, two twisters at the height of typhoon 'Odette' destroyed several houses in Barangay Mailum in Bago City and Barangay Estefania in Bacolod City.

Bago City Mayor Ramon Torres said the twister that hit Barangay Mailum Friday morning destroyed four houses and damaging seven others.

Several houses were also damaged in Brgy. Estefania in Bacolod City when a five-minute twister struck Friday afternoon, according to the Bacolod City Risk Reduction Management Office.

Meanwhile, also last Friday, strong winds induced by typhoon "Odette" toppled the electrical post of the National Grid Corp. in Hacienda Ligoy, Brgy. Granada, Bacolod, causing a three-hour blackout in some parts of the province.  (FREEMAN)