• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Damage to agricultural crops in Negros Occidental due to drought has hit more than P502 million, based on reports of the Sugar Regulatory Administration and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
SRA reported damage of P215,700,114 to sugarcane crops and molasses in Negros Occidental while rice and corn damage has been pegged at P302,224,913 as of May 8, the OPA report showed.
Other provinces in Western Visayas that produce sugar also sustained damage, including Capiz at P13,747,242 and Iloilo, P1,774,015, based on the SRA report as of April 15.
Negros Occidental supplies 60 to 65 percent of the domestic sugar consumption.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said that Negros Occidental is expecting a 30 percent drop in its standing crop output.
The OPA report indicated that rice crops were hit the hardest in Negros Occidental, with damage estimated at P291,747,976.57; corn – P7,809,894.76, and fisheries – P2,667,042.
Three local government units in Negros Occidental, namely the cities of San Carlos and Kabankalan as well as the municipality of San Enrique, have placed their respective areas under a state of calamity. | GB
