Falcon, Egay, Habagat agri damage at P1.94B —DA

The estimated damage due to typhoons Egay and Falcon and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat is already estimated to be P1.94 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture.

"For now... the estimated damage is already at P1.94 billion," Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said at a Palace briefing on Tuesday.

Of this total amount, the rice sector incurred P950 million worth of damage while corn was at P713 million, according to de Mesa.

De Mesa, meanwhile, ensured that all interventions are in place to help those who have been affected in the agriculture sector.

The reported death toll due to the effects of Typhoon Egay and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) has climbed to 25, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Monday.

The NDRRMC said two of the total reported fatalities have been confirmed, while 23 others are still for validation.

A total of 2,397,336 people or 654,837 families were affected by Egay and Habagat in 4,111 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro, Cordillera, and the National Capital Region.

Pangasinan damage

The local government of Pangasinan also reported heavy damage to agriculture and the fish industry.  

Vice Governor Mark Lambino said on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita on Tuesday that the effects of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat has already caused P60 million worth of damage to corn, rice, and fish production.

“Ang pinakamabigat po na natamaan dito ay ang agrikultura, partikular po sa mais kung saan panahon po kasi ng ani ng cropping nito. Umaabot ng mahigit 40 million ang damage sa mais,” he said.

(Corn production has been badly affected because it is currently harvest season. Around P40 million of damage has been reported in corn production.)

The reported damage to rice production was around P21 to P22 million, while the damage to the fish industry was P1.3 million, according to the official.

Lambino said they will check if the damaged crops are recoverable. But for the damaged corn, he said they are planning to use it for the consumption of livestock animals.

Meanwhile, a total of P33 million worth of damage to infrastructure, mostly farm-to-market roads, was reported in the province due to the inclement weather.

He also said that more than 100 barangays were affected by flooding. Some rivers also swelled which also caused flooding in Dagupan, Calasiao, and Sta. Barbara.

Some people were also injured. No fatalities have been reported so far, according to Lambino.

Some people were also injured. No fatalities were reported so far, according to Lambino.

Flooding

Three towns in Pangasinan are currently under a state of calamity.

Motorists were having a hard time traveling along major roads in Dagupan City due to the floods, according to a report of GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon’s Claire Lacanilao on Unang Balita.

Residents were using boats and improvised vehicles called “kuliglig” to move around the area.

The city’s public order and safety office said enforcers have been deployed in low-lying areas to instruct drivers of small vehicles to take alternative routes.

Thirty-one barangays in the city were submerged in floods. Due to this, many establishments were closed.

According to the report, over 1,500 people were staying inside evacuation centers. The local government has been distributing relief goods to the affected residents.

Rains to continue

PAGASA, in its 11 a.m. bulletin on Tuesday, said parts of Luzon and Visayas will continue to experience gusty conditions due to the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.

The state weather bureau said Typhoon Falcon maintained its strength while moving towards the sea southeast of Okinawa Islands.

PAGASA said the following areas will have gusty conditions, especially in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds:

Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, the central and southern portions of Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, and most of Ilocos Region, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas. —VAL, GMA Integrated News