El Niño damage in Cebu Province reaches P78 million

CEBU, Philippines —  Damage and loss of Cebu’s agricultural and fisheries products and livestock have ballooned to more than P78 million, according to the data obtained from Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

The amount was based on the respective damage assessment reports from at least 37 local government units in the province that have suffered from the crippling effects of the weak El Niño.

Based from the PDRRMO-consolidated data, the huge bulk of the damage was reported in Bantayan town where the 300-hectare seaweed (guso) farm was hit by the so-called “ice-ice disease.” Loss was pegged at P24 million.

At least 13 towns and one city also recorded millions worth of damage.

Tabuelan town declared a loss of over P8.882 million due to damaged crops. Daanbantayan town reported a damage of over P6.365 million from its nearly 113 hectares of corn, mongo and vegetation; 296 metric tons of banana; 21 mango trees; and 22 hectares of coconut.

Santa Fe town recorded a P4 million loss from damaged seaweed farm spanning 50 hectares. Alcantara town placed its damage at more than P3.547 million from vegetation and seaweed and aquaculture products.

Damage in Asturias town has reached over P3.387 million from corn and rice products while four heads of swine reportedly died. Alegria town had more than P3.325 million worth of damage on its rice and corn crops and vegetation.

Crops and plantations (corn, cacao, coffee, sugarcane and lakatan) in Medellin, including seaweed farms, were damaged amounting to over P2.481 million. Carcar City also recorded a damage of more than P2.367 million from its rice and corn crops, and loss in bangus, tilapia, and seaweeds.

Moalboal town lost its 75 hectares of rice field and corn farm worth P2 million while San Fernando town suffered a loss of P1.319 million from its banana plantations and vegetation. San Remegio town pegged its damage at  over P1.219 million due to fish kill, and damaged corn and vegetation.

Malabuyoc town reported a damage of more than P1.121 million from its high-value crops while Pilar town recorded over P1.071 million loss of its livestock, poultry, and high-value crops, too Aloguinsan town registered damage to its poultry and livestock, banana farm, corn and variety of crops amounting to P1.032 million.

The other towns which reported damages were, namely, Sogod (P946,500), City of Naga (P549,700), Bogo City (P447,980), Tudela (P265,500), Tuburan (P183,600), Santander (P170,550), Balamban (P147,000), and Consolacion (P138,000).

The rest are Pinamungajan (P94,125), Carmen (P88,500), Mandaue City (P84,000), Sibonga (P62,580) and Ginatilan (P17,600).

Other towns, however, failed to indicate or provide the amount of damage or loss on the distributed standard form to which the LGUs had to fill in.

Ronda town only accounted the 147 farmers affected; Compostela town also had 558 farmers affected while damage to high-value crops was also reported.

Badian town reported damage to its 3.5 hectares corn and fish kill. There was also fish kill reported in Boljoon town, as well as corn damage and harvest reduction.

Dumanjug town recorded damage in corn while Dalaguete is experiencing dried up rice fields.

Argao town reported dead swine and cattle, dried up demo-farm, and stunted crop growth. Talisay City also accounted emaciated cattle, goats and swine and also damaged high value crops, mango, banana, rice, and corn. Danao City reported withered crops. — MBG (FREEMAN)