‘Kristine’ Causes PHP1.6-M Damage to Crops, Fisheries

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” caused an initial PHP1,601,976.48 in damages to crops and fisheries in Negros Occidental, according to the Provincial Agriculture Office (OPA).

As of Oct. 22, rice crops sustained losses amounting to PHP1,026,046.48.

The damage affected 72 farmers in nine barangays in Sagay City, as well as in the towns of Calatrava and Toboso.

Fisheries suffered PHP575,930 in damages, OPA reported.

A fishpond in Barangay Tinampa-an, Cadiz City, incurred PHP551,930 in damage, affecting four fisherfolk. Another fishpond in Barangay Madalag, E.B. Magalona, reported PHP24,000 in losses.

As of Oct. 23, heavy rains had affected 254 families, or 655 individuals, in 18 barangays across the cities of Bago, Cadiz, Sipalay, and Sagay, and the towns of Hinigaran and Hinoba-an.

In Bacolod, 168 families, or 584 individuals, from 10 barangays were impacted by the storm.

This included 111 families from Barangay Sum-ag, 10 from Barangay Pahanocoy, two each from Barangays Cabug and 1, four from Barangay Singcang-Airport, three from Barangay Taculing, and one each from Barangays Estefania and Alijis. Nineteen families were affected in Barangay Tangub, and 15 in Barangay Banago.

Eunice Ciocon of the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said residents from Barangays Sum-ag, Pahanocoy, Taculing, and Cabug remained in evacuation centers as of Thursday.

Ciocon reported no flooded areas in Bacolod but said data on damaged houses and fallen trees is still being consolidated.

Damaged houses were reported in Barangays Singcang-Airport, Taculing, and Estefania.

Meanwhile, Commander Jansen Benjamin, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in northern Negros Occidental, said more than 100 passengers were stranded at the Bredco and Banago ports in Bacolod after some trips resumed.

However, trips between Bacolod and Iloilo remained suspended as Iloilo was still under Storm Signal No. 1.

Benjamin confirmed no maritime incidents related to the typhoon had been reported.