By CESAR JOLITO III
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) in Negros Occidental reported an estimated P2.53 million worth of damages to crops and fisheries due to the combined effects of the recent southwest monsoon enhanced by weather disturbances “Mirasol,” “Nando” and Severe Tropical Storm “Opong.”
Rice farms and fisheries across several localities in the province bore the brunt of the weather disturbances from September 16 to 27, based on OPA’s initial damage assessment submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday.
Four local government units recorded agricultural damages brought by the bad weather:
* San Carlos City — seven farmers affected, 6.57 hectares, P206,140.80 damage
* Don Salvador Benedicto — 117 farmers affected, 83.98 hectares, P1,492,509.20 damage
* Isabela — seven farmers affected, 5.12 hectares, P110,180.40 damage
* Moises Padilla — 28 farmers affected, 20.73 hectares, P606,651.23 damage
A total of 116.40 hectares of rice lands sustained damage amounting to P2,415,481.63.
Meanwhile, fisherfolk in Calatrava town suffered losses after four fishing boats were damaged by “Opong” on September 26, the OPA report said.
OPA’s fisheries assessment noted that two barangays — Bantayanon and Lo-ok — were affected, impacting four fishing boat operators.
The estimated loss reached P115,000, covering one partially damaged non-motorized boat and three totally damaged motorized boats, OPA said./CJ, WDJ