Agricultural and fisheries damage in Negros Occidental since the Dec. 9 eruption of Mt. Kanlaon has reached P129,758,168.52.
In a report submitted to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Agriculturist Officer Dina Genzola said that high-value commercial crops have suffered the most, with damage reported at P124,931,974; rice at P4,192,837.02; corn at P503,352.50; and fisheries at P130,005 as of Jan. 13.
The damage has affected 1,412 farmers in 22 barangays of La Castellana, as well as those in the cities of Bago and La Carlota in Negros Occidental, who are cultivating 624 hectares of farmland, Genzola added.
The damage to agricultural crops in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, has yet to be established.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy has imposed a 15-day price freeze on kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas in Negros Oriental until Jan. 25.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental will also implement a price freeze on basic commodities, as the province faces potential risks from Mt. Kanlaon’s restiveness, an official announced Monday, Jan. 13.
DTI-Negros Oriental Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio said that while price freezes are automatic when an area is declared under a state of calamity, the current situation presents unique challenges.
Although only Canlaon City and Vallehermoso are directly affected, the entire province is under a state of calamity.
Virtucio said they are now facing a dilemma on whether to impose a province-wide price freeze or propose a selective freeze only for the affected areas.
A meeting is scheduled with the DTI regional offices of Central Visayas and Negros Island Region to discuss the situation in Negros Oriental, she added.
DTI teams, who regularly monitor the prices of commodities in Canlaon City, reported a slight increase since the eruption last month. Some of these commodities are currently being sold for as much as P2 more than the suggested retail price (SRP), Virtucio said. ||
