• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Damage to crops, fisheries, and livestock in Negros Occidental due to recent shear line-induced heavy rains and northeast monsoon increased to P22.683 million as of Feb. 5, based on the consolidated reports of the provincial government.
Losses in crops and fisheries were placed at P16.3 million while damage to livestock, P6.383 million.
The fisheries sector took the hardest hit, with damage reaching P10.901 million across the province.
Reports of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson showed 444 rice farmers, who are tilling 236.74 hectares of land, were affected by the flooding.
Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian, attributed the recent drowning and deaths of 3,110 heads of swine, cattle, carabao, goat, poultry, duck, horse and gamefowl to flooding that hit northern Negros.
These were reported in the cities of Sagay, Escalante, and Silay as well as in the towns of Toboso and Calatrava, affecting 241 households.
The state weather bureau PAGASA said rains in Negros Occidental due to shear line and northeast monsoon may last until Friday.
While there was no reported damage due to Tropical Depression Basyang that hit the province early this week, a 30-year-old man, who was reported missing after crossing a river on Feb. 10, was found dead the following day at the Binalbagan River in Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla. | GB
