By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Heavy rain and winds generated by Typhoon Paolo cost Negros Occidental P21.5 million worth of crops, based on a report released by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
OPA head, Atty. Japhet Masculino, said the storm caused damage to rice, corn, and vegetable crops.
Among the local government units to report damages to their crops include Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, and Bago City.
A total 705 farmers, in 36 barangays, were affected; totalling 981.19 hectares worth of damaged farmland.
Valladolid suffered the most damage with over P13.5 million worth of crops destroyed, followed by Bago City with reported damages of P5.6 million.
Masculino added, their office is still conducting further field assessments to see if other areas were also affected by the typhoon./DGB, WDJ