‘Crising,’ habagat cause PHP45M in agri losses in Negros Occidental

By Glazyl M. Jopson and Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Typhoon Crising and the southwest monsoon, or habagat, caused an estimated PHP45.55 million in agricultural damage in Negros Occidental as of Wednesday, July 23, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council report released by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-6 on Thursday.

The storm displaced 1,864 farmers and fisherfolk and affected around 1,491 hectares of agricultural land.

Most of those affected were 1,511 rice farmers, followed by 244 corn growers, 64 high-value crop cultivators, and 45 livestock raisers.

Rice suffered the greatest loss, with damage amounting to PHP29.62 million, followed by corn at PHP12.18 million.

Losses in high-value crops totaled PHP2.88 million, while damage to livestock and poultry reached PHP865,400.

Of the affected farmers, 837 still have a chance to recover their crops, while 654 have no chance of recovery.

A total of 47,444 families—or 178,781 individuals—in 201 barangays across 23 local government units (LGUs), including Bacolod City, were affected.

Binalbagan town recorded the highest number of affected residents, with 11,862 families or 55,200 individuals in 13 villages.

Other affected areas include Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Valladolid, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Candoni, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Kabankalan City, Sipalay City, and Silay City.

In response, various LGUs and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have provided PHP22.58 million in assistance.

A total of 349 houses were damaged, including 41 totally destroyed and 308 partially damaged, across 15 LGUs.

Flooding also affected 34 roads in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, with 29 located in Negros Occidental.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government immediately sent food packs to evacuees following the onset of flooding.

“That is the immediate response from the province in any situation like flooding,” he said in a media interview Thursday.

Lacson urged the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to review its protocols to identify any gaps and prevent future casualties.

Six people—including two persons with disabilities—died during the typhoon, according to PDRRMO data.

Two fatalities were from Binalbagan, and one each from Himamaylan City, Sagay City, and Hinoba-an town.

Lacson emphasized the importance of zero-casualty goals during disasters.

“We’d like to think that everything can be avoided, especially casualties,” he said.

Capitol sends food aid

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government immediately dispatched food packs to flood victims as continuous rains triggered widespread flooding.

“What we did, based on reports from the DSWD, was send out food packs, especially to those inside evacuation centers,” Lacson said Thursday.

“That is the immediate response from the province in any situation like flooding,” he added.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) reported distributing PHP1.9 million worth of food assistance to affected families.

PSWDO head Chiqui Gonzales said the food packs benefitted around 3,200 families.

She added that preparations are ongoing for more food assistance to Negrense families expected to be affected by the continuing southwest monsoon, now intensified by tropical depressions Dante and Emong.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region will assist farmers affected by the floods with free rice seeds.

DA Regional Director Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo said the nonstop rains destroyed newly planted rice seeds set for harvest from late August to early September.

The seeds will be sourced from the Philippine Rice Research Institute and PhilRice.

Barrogo added that insured farmers will receive indemnity from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.