Isabela disaster body estimates P57 million damage on agriculture

Ilagan, Isabela (8 October) — The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) has initially assessed the damage caused by typhoon Pepeng last Saturday here.

The PDCC posted a total of P57 million damages on rice and corn crops, livestock and high value crops that are mostly to be harvested.

The damages are recorded from northern Isabela towns and some are from other three district towns of Isabela particularly in low lying areas.

There were eleven thousand hectares of palay affected with a total 7, 630 of rice farmers and 637 hectares of corn land affected with a total of 370 corn farmers.

The PDCC has also recorded a big loss on high-value-crops (vegetable crops) with 107 hectares affected and forty vegetable farmers.

Twenty hectares of banana plantations were also destroyed and there were 292 fishponds devastated by typhoon Pepeng.

The provincial government is still assessing the extent of damage as of press time and the initial report is expected to increase as there are still areas that were not reached and assessed like the coastal towns of Palanan, Maconacon, Divilacan and Dinapigue where the typhoon has crossed last Saturday.

Meawhile, the PDCC reported that there were also damages on infrastructures. The PDCC has posted damages on provincial roads in various parts of the province with a total of P2.3 million and a P2.5 million damages on bridges.

The PDCC is optimistic that the damages wrought by typhoon Pepeng will be given priority by the public works and highways department through the province’s recommendations to restore the infrastructure projects which are very important element for Isabela farmers to boost economic activity. (PIA Isabela)