• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Damage to agricultural crops, fisheries, and livestock in Negros Occidental due to flooding in the past week rose to P6.32 million as of Sept. 30, based on the reports of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
OPA reported that 259 hectares of rice fields in 39 barangays of nine local government units were damaged by flooding, affecting 351 farmers.
OPA pegged the cost of damage at P6.117 million.
Damage to fisheries were reported at P182,250 while cost of damage to livestock reached P21,261, which affected 12 households in Valladolid town as well as in cities of Bago and La Carlota.
The PVO served eight animal raisers by evacuating 36 heads of animals to the District 5 Animal Rescue Center in Barangay 1, Moises Padilla.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the low pressure area, which has been spotted 1,360 kilometers, east of southeastern Luzon, has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression (TD) within 24 hours.
“Once the LPA develops into TD, its projected track is similar to tropical cyclone Nando. South of Nando’s track is also not ruled out,” PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said.
He added that the TD, which would be given the local name Paolo, is expected to cause rains across Northern Luzon by Friday.
“It could possibly make landfall over Cagayan area. It might reach the tropical storm category prior to landfall,” he added. | GB with PNA reports
