• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Moderate to heavy rains are still expected over Negros Island and neighboring Western Visayas and VisMin areas due to the low pressure area (LPA) and southwest monsoon, and the DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration urged the public to be vigilant against landslides and flooding.
Watercourses likely to be affected include rivers and tributaries in Negros Occidental, particularly Malogo, Sicaba, Grande, Himogaan, Danao, upper Tabanan, Sipalay, and lower Ilog; and La Libertad, Tanjay, Candugay, Siaton, Cawitan, Sipocong, Bayawan, Pagatban, and lower Tabanan in Negros Oriental, the DOST-PAGASA said in its flood advisory at 6 p.m. July 18.
People living near the mountain slopes and in low-laying areas near these river systems should be alert for possible flashfloods and landslides, the advisory added.
The LPA was estimated in the vicinity of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, as of 3 p.m. Thursday, and the possibility of this weather disturbance developing into a tropical depression is not ruled out, the weather bureau said.
The Department of Agriculture-DRRM Operations Center, meanwhile, urged farmers and fisherfolk to harvest mature crops and utilize post-harvest facilities; secure seed reserves, planting materials and other farm inputs, as well as feeds and water for livestock;
Relocate animals, farm machineries, and equipment to higher ground; secure sufficient feeds and water for relocated animals; and clear drainage in irrigation and rice paddies from obstructions to prevent flooding, among others, as preparedness measures.
It said that, based on the combined data of areas at risk, the area of standing crops, as of July 15, totaled 514,504 hectares with 282,295 hectares for rice and 232,209 hectares for corn.
For rice, the area under seedling and vegetative stage is at 224,884 hectares or 79.66 percent, area under reproductive stage is at 20,533 ha. or 7.27 percent, while areas under the maturity stage contribute to the remaining 36,878 ha. or 13.06 percent.
As for corn, the area of crops under the seedling and vegetative stage is at 175,664 ha. (75.65%), under reproductive stage 47,572 ha (20.49%), while those under the maturity stage contribute to the remaining 8,973 ha (3.86%), it added.
It added that, as of July 18, the DA field offices in areas being affected by the southwest monsoon and LPA are monitoring the actual field situation for possible damage that may be incurred in the agriculture and fisheries sector, and prepositioning seeds for rice and corn, and drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry in safe storage facilities. | CGC
