Severe tropical storm Paeng: Calabarzon agricultural damage hits P603.9 million

MANILA, Philippines — Damage to agriculture in Calabarzon due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng has reached P603.9 million.

In a report, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)  said rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, livestock, fisheries, irrigation and agricultural infrastructure were affected.

Damage to high-value crops was placed at P409.6 million; rice, P118.47 million; white corn, P22.2 million, and yellow corn, P18.15 million.

The fishery sector incurred damage amounting to P7.4 million; irrigation, P18 million, and agri-infrastructure, P9.4 million.

The RDRRMC said 1,329 houses were affected, with 181 destroyed.

Calabarzon is among the four regions placed under a state of calamity due to the damage caused by Paeng.

The calamity declaration is seen to hasten rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts as local government units are allowed to utilize their calamity funds.

Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government released 70 metric tons of rice on Wednesday for distribution to storm-hit areas.

BARMM Senior Minister Abdulrauf Macacua said residents of 63 barangays in Cotabato, which comprise the special geographic area of the region, as well as  Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur are among the beneficiaries.

More than 50 people died in landslides and flashfloods in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura and Upi in Maguindanao del Norte due to  Paeng.               – John Unson