CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The week-long monsoon rains in the province have destroyed almost P80-million-worth of crops, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported.

Based on the OPA’s August 19 report, the total damage to agriculture in the province had reached P79,833,185, with the rice sector suffering the most at P79,748,609.

Farmers in Candaba incurred the biggest amount of damage to rice crops amounting to some P31,930,800, followed by Apalit which reported a loss of P19,952,864 and, farmers in Magalang town P11,848,953.

Sta. Ana and Bacolor towns also reported a damage to agriculture amounting to some P5,664,060 and P5,068,272, respectively, while the cities of Mabalacat and San Fernando had a combined amount of damaged rice crops at P280,565.

The municipalities of Porac, Guagua, Mexico, Sto. Tomas and San Simon are also reeling from a total amount of P3,186,615 loss to rice crops.

The town of Floridablanca also reported a damage to rice crops amounting to P1,195,704 and damage to corn crops amounting to P42,756.

Lubao town recorded a loss of P1,603,122 in the sector and P42,000 of cassava crops.

The OPA said that affected farmers will receive assistance in terms of rice seed and ffunds from the Department of Agriculture and provincial government.