‘Opong’ causes PHP654,000 in crop, livestock losses in Negros Occ

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Torrential rains from Tropical Cyclone Opong caused an initial damage of PHP 654,912.59 to agriculture, including crops and livestock, in four local government units (LGUs) on Sept. 26.

Moises Padilla incurred the largest losses at PHP 633,651.23, including the displacement of 33 livestock animals.

According to the municipal government, crop damage affected 21.38 hectares of farmland, impacting 29 farmers in eight barangays.

Rice sustained the most damage, followed by high-value crops and corn.

The affected crops spanned nine barangays: Quintin Remo, Odiong, Montilla, Magallon Cadre, Guinpana-an, Crossing Magallon, Macagahay, Barangay 4, and Barangay 6.

The heavy rainfall also caused rivers and creeks to swell, damaging critical infrastructure and flooding houses near waterways, which forced 109 families in four villages to evacuate and relocate their livestock.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) reported that the evacuees included 48 families from Barangay 1, 43 from Barangay Crossing Magallon, 17 from Barangay 3, and one from Barangay Inolingan.

Evacuees were temporarily housed at the covered court of Barangay 1 and the local government’s main evacuation center in Barangay 6.

All evacuees were safely sent home on Saturday, Sept. 27, after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the provincial government reported that the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) had been lifted over Negros Occidental and skies had cleared.

The typhoon also damaged a total of 57 houses, with 11 totally destroyed and 46 partially damaged.

Assessment of further agricultural and property damage is ongoing.

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo stressed the importance of keeping evacuees safe and ensuring they were provided with food, clean drinking water, and medical assistance.

She directed the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (BDRRMO) to monitor the situation and assess property damage.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Quick Response Team was also immediately mobilized.

For livestock, damage amounting to PHP 21,261.36 was reported in Bago City, La Carlota City, and Valladolid town.

In Bago City, six animals in two barangays suffered PHP 3,958.89 in losses, while two animals in one village in La Carlota City incurred PHP 700 worth of damage.

Seventy-nine animals in one barangay in Valladolid town sustained PHP 16,602.47 in losses.

The typhoon displaced more than 30,000 people in 12 LGUs in the province due to flooding last week.