Iloilo logs P44.8-M agri losses from heavy rains

Heavy rains caused by the Typhoon Goring-enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat destroyed millions of pesos worth of agricultural products in the province of Iloilo.

According to data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-6), damage to agriculture in Iloilo was estimated at P44.8 million.

The province and other parts of Western Visayas experienced flooding triggered by the heavy rains from Aug. 28 to 29.

Negros Occidental incurred the highest agricultural losses at P125 million. Antique and Guimaras suffered P20.5 million and P1.4 million, respectively, in damage to agriculture.

Overall, the region’s agriculture sector sustained P192.5 million worth of losses, covering 9,070 metric tons of produce planted in about 4,800 hectares of land.

A total of 4,571 farmers were affected. Of the number, 3,043 were from Negros Occidental, 922 from Iloilo, 571 from Antique and 35 from Guimaras.IMT