DA places damage to agri sector from Mayon activity at P165.54M

The damage caused by Mayon Volcano on crops in Albay province has so far reached P165.54 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported Tuesday.

A total of 8,138 hectares were affected, with the volume of production loss estimated at 36,023 metric tons (MT), according to a damage report on the activity of Mayon as of 12 noon on January 30.

“The affected commodities are rice, corn, high-value crops and fiber crops and have affected a total of 8,294 farmers,” the report said.

Rice accounted for 82.45 percent or P139.79 million of the damage, with the 6,380 hectares affected equivalent to 61.35 percent of total standing crop of 10,399 hectares.

“The losses were due to the effect of ash fall on leaves and tillers of newly planted rice crops,” the DA said.

The affected areas include Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Legazpi City, Ligao, Malilipot, Oas, Polangui, and Sto. Domingo.

Corn accounted for 2.65 percent of total production loss, or 708 hectares valued at P4.38 million.

“Farms are located within the 8-kilometer danger zone and crops affected by heavy ash fall are totally damaged due to burnt leaves and plant,” the DA said.

An estimated P20.89 million worth of high-value crops in 1,049 hectares were also lost, including ampalaya, Baguio beans, eggplant, okra, pole sitao, sayote, sili, tomato, and upo.

The damage to fiber crops, particularly abaca, amounted to P0.48 million involving 99 hectares.

“The DA-DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management) Operations Center shall continuously monitor and provide further updates ... once succeeding reports have been received,” the department said.

The volcano remains under Alert Level 4, which means hazardous eruption is a possibility. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News