Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Frank destroys P89M in products, property
MORE than P89 million worth of agricultural products were destroyed when typhoon Frank swept over Cebu’s northern towns last week, the Capitol agriculture office reported.
Apart from agriculture, the domestic shipping industry also suffered from Frank, which damaged ferries and motorized boats that move cargo and passengers from the Visayas to other islands.
In an initial report to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Provincial Agriculturist Necias Vicoy Jr. noted that San Remigio town appears to have suffered the most, with estimated losses of P89.7 million.
The typhoon devastated over 1,000 hectares planted to corn, bananas, vegetables and mangoes.
In Sta. Fe town, about P1.1 million worth of agricultural products such as coconuts, mangoes and corn were destroyed.
About P7.7 million worth of crops were lost in Carmen, (P105,000); Borbon, (P812,500); Tabuelan, (P239,400); Sogod, (P5,079,120); Tabogon, (P2,430,000); Carcar, (P300,000) and Aloguinsan, (P6,000,000).
In Bantayan, millions of pesos worth of fishing vessels were damaged. The island is a key source of fish, poultry and eggs.
During the Provincial Development Council meeting at the Capitol Social Hall yesterday, Governor Garcia was briefed about the extent of damage to agriculture in the
northern towns.
The Provincial Social Welfare Office said the distribution of relief goods to the affected residents is ongoing.
The Capitol engineering office, however, could not provide estimates on the damage to infrastructure, as it continues to gather data.
The governor tasked the provincial engineers to concentrate on bridge rehabilitation, repair of damaged roads and clearing of impassable highways.
Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez said that over 235 houses were damaged in his town, with hundreds of families affected by the calamity.
Bantayan Mayor Geralyn Escario-Cańares warned that the supply of eggs in the region could suffer, unless government addresses the damage to the town’s poultry industry. Poultry raisers have asked for funding assistance to restart their business, she added.
The town produces more than a million eggs per day, making it the “egg basket” of Central Visayas, she added.
Meanwhile, Commander Antonio Cuasito of the Philippine Coast Guard said they still have to get a complete report from the field about sea accidents caused by the typhoon. Cuasito serves as chief of staff of the Central Eastern Visayas District.
Apart from sinking the mv Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines, typhoon Frank also damaged inter-island ferries and passenger motorized boats operating in the Visayas.
The list includes the mv Kins Cebu of Kinswell Shipping, reportedly battered by big waves while anchored off a pier in Bato, Leyte Friday night, the Cebu Coast Guard said.
The ship’s portholes reportedly took in seawater, causing it to half-submerge. Luckily, the ferry had no passengers on board.
Similar incidents involving passenger ferries and motorized boats were also reported in the ports of Hindang, Leyte; Camotes Island, Cebu; and Negros Island over the weekend, but these await official confirmation.
“What we got is only the maritime incident in Bato, Leyte. We still have to receive a report from the different stations,” Cuasito said. (GMD/GC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 24, 2008 issue)
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