Coco industry loses P200 M due to Typhoon Nina

MANILA, Philippines - Losses sustained by the country’s coconut industry because of Typhoon Nina have reached approximately P200 million, based on preliminary reports from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). According to the PCA, around 16.6 million trees were damaged after strong winds and heavy rain pounded the Bicol and Calabarzon regions.

Marinduque alone reported P128 million worth of damages and Quezon with P70 million.

Estimated cost of damage in Batangas reached P510,000; Oriental Mindoro, P310,000 and Cavite, P182,000.

“We lost hundreds of thousands of coconut trees at a time when we are trying to plant more to replace the senile and damaged trees of the past,” PCA administrator Avelino Andal said.

Furthermore, about nine million trees and four million trees were reportedly damaged in Bicol and Camarines Sur, respectively.

“We have to identify the trees that can be saved and the trees that should be cut down,” Andal said.

“We also have to know if they need some re-planting or inter-cropping so that we can assist the coconuts farmers of their needs,” he said.

The PCA said it would provide aid and new seedlings to affected coconut farmers and help in the debris management that involves proper disposal of fallen coconut trees to clear public and private lands.

Meanwhile, the National Irrigation Administration said preliminary reports showed that damages to irrigation facilities have reached approximately P190 million covering 7,748 hectares of lands and affecting 8,953 farmers.

Some of the damages in irrigation facilities included counter fort, diversion works, canal lining, river embankment, and protection works.

Complete damage assessment and validation caused by Typhoon Nina remains ongoing and will soon be released.