Negros Occidental floods bring P14.8M losses to agriculture

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The floods due to heavy rains that hit Negros Occidental last week have caused damages of over P14.8 million worth of fisheries and rice, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in its Final Damage report.

E. B. Magalona town, with seven barangays affected, had the biggest damage amounting to more than P6.7 million, the biggest of which was on milkfish ponds worth over P5 million.

Victorias City, which declared a state of calamity, reported a damage of over P4.4 million, the bulk of which was on rice stocks.

Silay City, which also declared a state of calamity, had damages worth P3.56 million, with damage to rice reaching P1.8 million and fishpond structures worth P1.2 million.

Talisay City reported a damage to crab gill nets worth P10,000, while Cadiz City reported a damage to rice at P53,463.

Earlier, the OPA reported that a total of 2,286 heads of poultry and livestock were killed due to floods in the cities of Victorias, Silay and Talisay, and the towns of E. B. Magalona, and Murcia.

According to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, the floods destroyed 52 houses in Silay, Victorias, Talisay, and E. B. Magalona, and partially damaged 101 houses in Silay and Victorias. (FREEMAN)