A VALIDATED report from the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has revealed that damage to crops, fishery and livelihood brought about by the weak El Niño in 37 local government units (LGUs) has reached P78,092,327.76.
The development was confirmed by Rhee Telen Jr. of the PDPRRMO in an interview on Wednesday, May 1.
Affected areas include the cities of Bogo, Carcar, Danao, Mandaue, Naga, Talisay and Toledo, and the towns of Alcantara, Alegria, Aloguinsan, Argao, Asturias, Badian, Balamban, Bantayan, Boljoon, Carmen, Compostela, Consolacion, Daanbantayan, Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Medellin, Moalboal, Pilar, Pinamungajan, Ronda, San Fernando, San Remigio, Sta. Fe, Santander, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan and Tudela.
The LGUs that reported the highest amount of damage are Bantayan with P24 million, Compostela with P14.3 million, Tabuelan with P8.8 million, Daanbantayan with P6.3 million and Sta. Fe with P4 million.
Based on the validated report, Bantayan declared damage to 300 hectares of seaweed farm affected by the Ice-ice disease, a condition of seaweed caused by changes in salinity, ocean temperature and light intensity.
Meanwhile, Compostela reported damage to crops affecting some 558 farmers in seven barangays.
In Tabuelan, around 815 farmers were affected while damage to assorted crops was placed at P8.2 million and root crops at P672,500.
The northern town of Daanbantayan reported damage to around 112.5 hectares of corn fields worth P2.1 million, damage to vegetable farms at P1.15 million, damage to 296 metric tons of banana worth P2.9 million, 21 affected mango trees at P35,625 and 22 hectares of coconut farm at P21,500.
Neighboring town Sta. Fe also reported damage to 50 hectares of seaweed farm affected by the Ice-ice disease.
As of Wednesday, at least 5,000 farmers and around 924 fisherfolks were affected by the dry spell in the 37 LGUs.
Telen said they already started distributing assistance to the affected LGUs, and some private organizations have also pledged help in distributing water tanks. (RTF)