Cebu lost P863M in crops, livestock

CEBU CITY -- Nearly P900 million worth of crops and livestock were lost in Cebu when Yolanda hit several northern towns nearly three weeks ago, a report from the Provincial Government showed.

The numbers are expected to rise, however, because the report is still incomplete.

Posted on the Province’s official Facebook page on Wednesday, the report showed Yolanda claimed some P557 million worth of livestock and P306 million worth of crops.

The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Central Visayas, also Wednesday, said its partial assessment showed at least P857 million worth of crops and animals were lost in Cebu’s northern towns.

Bantayan suffered the most, the DA report said. The town lost an estimated P265.7 million in its poultry industry, equivalent to 1.4 million chickens that were lost during the typhoon.

Madridejos town, also located in Bantayan Island, also lost P155.3 million in its poultry sector.

Nationwide, the typhoon’s damage to agriculture was pegged at P11.35 billion as of Wednesday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Yolanda damaged or wrecked an additional P13.18 billion worth of infrastructure, as it left behind a trail of crippled schools, roofless town halls and collapsed houses.

About P528 million worth of relief goods have reached affected families so far, the NDRRMC report added.

Claims checked

In Cebu, another form of relief is expected from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), which said it is now processing the claims of 2,464 farmers or fishers.

Regional Director Cresencio Deligero Jr. said his office is set to release P39.852 million, once they finish verifying claims.

According to the DA’s assessment, poultry farms in Sta. Fe town, also in Bantayan, lost about P45.5 million worth of chickens.

Aside from damage it did to Cebu’s egg basket, the typhoon has also destroyed crops in the north.

In Danao City, about P73 million worth of crops were lost. Most of these were mango trees. About 419 hectares of corn fields worth P1.9 million were not spared.

Tabuelan town lost about P34.2 million worth of crops and poultry to the typhoon.

San Remigio town lost not only crops, but also poultry and other livestock, worth about P14.5 million. Aside from corn, mango and banana crops, P1.6 million worth of cattle, P584,000 worth of goats and P370,000 worth of poultry in that town were lost.

Other northern Cebu areas whose crops and livestock Yolanda claimed last Nov. 8 are Bogo City (P10.8 million in damage), Daanbantayan (P60 million), Medellin (P34.2 million), Tabogon (P38 million), Borbon (P24.8 million), Catmon (P3.8 million), Carmen (P13.7 million), Consolacion (P2.5 million), Sogod (P17.2 million), Liloan (P1.2 million) and Compostela (P355,000).

West, too

Although the north was hit worst in Cebu—Yolanda made landfall there twice, in Bantayan and Daanbantayan—some parts of the west also suffered.

About P33 million worth of crops in Toledo City were reportedly destroyed by the typhoon, the DA said.

Other western Cebu areas whose crops were damaged by the typhoon are Tuburan (P7.3 million), Asturias (P10.4 million) and Balamban (P2.2 million).

Crops and livestock being raised in the Camotes Group of Island were also affected. About P5.3 million worth of crops were destroyed in Pilar town, while about P161,525 worth of corn were lost in Poro town.

Among the insurance claimants so far, the largest came from the Suntory Farms piggery in Sta. Fe, with an estimated indemnity of P12.899 million.

The PCIC claims list showed that the claimants come from Sta. Fe, Medellin, Bantayan, Bogo City, Tabogon and Borbon.

Some claimants were also listed in Asturias, Barili, Ronda and Carcar City. Others not listed may still be completing requirements, the PCIC said.

PCIC records showed that Cebu has 71,225 insured farmers and fishers, with a combined cover of P3.06 billion.

Big help

Deligero said that of the figure, 27,225 are farmers and fishers, while the other 44,000 are barangay officials and workers like barangay health workers, nutrition scholars and others.

“Nakatabang gyud ang insurance sa mga farmers and fishermen (The insurance coverage for farmers and fishermen has helped a lot),” said Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III.

Director Deligero said the corporation’s adjusters have fanned out in the fourth district to verify claims.

Based on the PCIC claims list, the owners of a piggery in Sta. Fe, a banana plantation in Medellin, a poultry farm in Tabogon and a papaya plantation in Borbon are among those affected by Yolanda.

The claimants also include 372 fishermen in Bantayan, who may get a combined P3.07 million in indemnity for their fishing boats.

The Provincial Agriculture Office’s damage assessment, which is based on farmgate prices, showed that some 40,676 metric tons of crops were lost.

These included corn, banana, mango, vegetables, sweet potato, rice and cassava plots, spread over 11,772 hectares that Yolanda swept across. (Sun.Star Cebu)

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