‘Agaton’ destroyed P142 million worth of crops, initial report says

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Tropical depression Agaton ravaged P142 million worth of agricultural crops and farms after pummeling parts of Western Visayas with incessant rains.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Region 6 based the estimate on the report of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-6 as of 8:00 a.m. of April 16.

The estimated cost of damages to agriculture was reported in the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Guimaras.

The affected crop areas were estimated at 4,593.71 hectares.

Based on records, Iloilo was hit hardest in terms of crop areas with 1,175.51 hectares (has.) but Capiz, with only 3,093 has. of affected farms, suffered the most in terms of cost.

Iloilo’s cost of damage to agriculture was at P53.5 million while Capiz was at P81.8 million.

“Agaton” affected Antique’s 224.85 has. of crop area (P7.27 million) while Guimaras has a minimal damage of P183,105 to its 0.35 hectare of affected area.

The cost of damage to agriculture could still increase, as DA-6 has yet to estimate the devastation on livestock/poultry, fisheries, and agricultural infrastructure and equipment.

As of 11:30 a.m. April 15, the Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) cluster of RDRRMC-6 reported 11 casualties and 5 missing.

Iloilo has five casualties while Capiz reported 6 deaths and 5 missing persons.