Rains damage P34 million worth of fruits, veggies in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — The recent heavy rains in Cebu City have damaged P34.2 million worth of fruits and vegetables, according to the City Agriculture Department.

CAD assistant head Arlie Gesta said that fruit and vegetable damage was noted in at least 13 mountain barangays in the city, including Adlawan , Babag, Bonbon, Malubog, Pung-ol Sibugay ,Paril, Sinsin, Sirao, Sudlon 1, Sudlon 2, Tabonan, Tagbao, and  Taptap .

CAD data showed that a total of 211 hectares owned by 383 farmers were damaged by the heavy downpour.

Nevertheless, Gesta assured that fruit and vegetable stocks remain enough in Cebu City since there are other sources of agricultural produce aside from the city’s mountain barangays.

CAD will check the extent of the damage and what help the city can give.

Because of the persistent rains, City Agriculturist Joey Baclayon has earlier encouraged the city farmers to insure their crops.

The farmers, he said, may apply for insurance for free at the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). The CAD will also facilitate in the enrollment to the insurance program for the farmers.

At present, 1,700 farmers in the city have enrolled to the PCIC program.

Meanwhile, because of pandemic, the flower productions in Cebu City for the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day have dwindled by as much as 50 percent, according to the agriculture office.

Around 1,000 flower growers in the city are affected of pandemic, the office said.  — JMD (FREEMAN)