La union: La Union's disaster management agency has reported initial damage estimates of PHP77.7 million to agriculture and infrastructure due to the impact of tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, as well as the effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon, locally known as 'habagat.'
According to Philippines News Agency, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) stated that as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, the estimated damage to agriculture has exceeded PHP69 million. This includes losses of PHP19.6 million in high-value crops, PHP11.2 million in rice, PHP2.9 million in fisheries, PHP35.8 million in irrigation, PHP986,936 in corn, PHP310,000 in farm structures, and PHP5,000 in machinery.
The damage has affected 1,041.36 hectares of land, impacting 1,546 farmers and fisherfolk in the municipalities of Santo Tomas, Pugo, Caba, Bauang, Aringay, Agoo, Luna, Bangar, San Gabriel, San Juan, Balaoan, Bacnotan, Agoo, Naguilian, Sudipen, Bagulin, and Rosario.
In addition, the PDRRMO estimated infrastructure damage at PHP6.9 million and livestock losses at PHP1.1 million, primarily affecting cattle, chickens, goats, and ducks suffering from hypothermia in Naguilian, Bangar, Balaoan, Aringay, and San Fernando City.
The report also highlighted 64 flooding incidents in Agoo, Bauang, Naguilian, Bangar, Santo Tomas, Luna, and San Fernando City, landslides in Sudipen, Bagulin, Naguilian, Burgos, and San Gabriel, as well as three mudslides and a rockslide in San Fernando City.
The combined weather disturbances since August 3 have affected a total of 11,633 families, or 37,771 individuals, across 238 barangays. Twenty-two houses sustained damage in San Fernando City, San Juan, Agoo, Bauang, Burgos, Caba, Naguilian, and Santo Tomas, with two houses destroyed in Bauang and Naguilian.
In response, the provincial government and local government units (LGUs) have provided over PHP1 million worth of assistance. The PDRRMO has distributed 4,394 family food packs to the LGUs for the affected families.
