Cagayan Valley loses P1-billion crops to Mina

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines  – Cagayan Valley lost at least P1 billion in agricultural produce due to typhoon Mina , with Cagayan as the hardest-hit province in the region.

Damage to Cagayan’s corn and rice was at P878 million and P4.3 million for the fishery sector. Damage to infrastructure was initially placed at nearly P1 billion.

At least 45,000 metric tons of palay were damaged worth some P580 million, followed by corn at 26,552.39 metric tons worth nearly P300 million and other high value crops at 1,200 metric tons worth some P2.5 million.

Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio said they are still determining whether a state of calamity should be declared in the province, considering that more typhoons are expected to hit the country this year.

Antonio added that immediate rehabilitation and relief efforts could still be shouldered by local funds without need to expend the province’s remaining calamity funds.

Meanwhile in Isabela, Dr. Danilo Tumamao, provincial agriculture officer, said the province lost at least P170 million worth of damaged crops, mostly rice and corn.

Tumamao said some 15,000 hectares of corn lands in Isabela were destroyed, resulting to a loss of 8,252.63 metric tons or P89 million. He said damage to palay was placed at 9,500 hectares or a loss of 5,052.63 metric tons worth around P81 million.

Isabela is the country’s second rice-producing province and number one in corn production.