• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The recent eruption of Kanlaon Volcano has caused P1.847 million in damage to agricultural crops in Negros Occidental as of May 16, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) said in a report.
OPA Officer-in-Charge Dina Genzola, in a report submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, said that P1.718 million in high-value commercial crops and P128,113.28 in rice crops were damaged.
A total of 13.57 hectares of agricultural crops were affected in barangays of Tabao Proper, Bagumbayan, Saguabanwa and Bayabas in Valladolid as well as in villages of Sag-ang and Camandag in La Castellana, affecting 75 farmers.
Kanlaon Volcano had a minor explosive eruption on May 13, with ashfall affecting more than 100 barangays in 11 local government units (LGUs) of Negros Island.
The two eruptions of Kanlaon Volcano in June and December last year also caused significant damage to agriculture in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, with total losses estimated at nearly P129 million.
The high-value crops sector experienced the most damage, followed by rice and corn production. Livestock and poultry also suffered losses.
On its April 13 eruption, damage to crops were also pegged at about P1 million, according to the report of the Department of Agriculture.
Local disaster councils in La Castellana and Bago reported that muddy stream flow were detected in rivers of the respective LGUs.
The situation has affected fish in the river systems and residents who do their laundry in the rivers, disaster councils further said. | GB
