Labuyo leaves P438-M crop losses in 3 regions

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Labuyo may have left the country, but its destruction will be felt for some time by farmers in the Cordilleras, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon which incurred, by initial estimates, P438 million in agricultural damage, authorities said.

In Quirino, Agaton Pagbilao Jr., an officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), said Labuyo’s fury destroyed P205,897,645 in agricultural crops, with corn accounting for the biggest damage at P177,460,824.

The howler, according to Pagbilao, affected 25,267 hectares of croplands, of which 15,330 hectares are planted with corn.

In Isabela, Senior Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., provincial police director and action officer of the PDRRMC, said Districts 3 and 4 were the hardest hit by the typhoon, with crop losses initially placed at nearly P180 million.

Gov. Faustino Dy III reported that Labuyo destroyed at least 19,885 hectares of cornfields worth P138,741,314; 3,410 hectares of rice fields worth P26,555,375; banana plants at fruiting stage at P13,218,823; and vegetable farms worth P1.11 million. 

However, Dy said damage to infrastructure was negative but the water level in several areas in the province’s two cities and 34 municipalities was slightly elevated.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday, the water level of Magat Dam was at 191.90 meters, near the critical level of 190 meters. Its management earlier had to open one gate to let go of the excess water. 

Labuyo’s onslaught in the Cordillera region, particularly Benguet, left crop losses reaching over P11 million.

Based on initial assessment, losses included P4.2 million worth of high-value crops like upland vegetables, P1.7 million worth of palay, and P5.3 million worth of corn, according to Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera officer-in-charge Alex Uy.

Agot Balanoy of the Benguet Vegetable Cooperative said there was minimal damage on vegetable farms in northern Benguet. 

In Pangasinan, authorities cited partial reports placing fisheries losses at P8 million and infrastructure damage at P42 million. – Raymund Catindig, Artemio Dumlao, Non Alquitran, Cesar Ramirez, Charlie Lagasca, Czeriza Valencia