By Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz
The initial amount of damages and losses to the fisheries sector due to tropical storm "Ambo" has so far reached ₱541,400 in Bicol Region, based on a Department of Agriculture (DA) report issued on Sunday afternoon (May 17).
Department of Agriculture (MANILA BULLETIN)
Camarines Norte logged the highest total value of damages at ₱262,500, followed by Camarines Norte at ₱222,700, and Catanduanes at ₱56,200.
The damage assessment and field validation are continuously conducted to determine the extent of damage and losses brought by the typhoon in the agri-fisheries sector.
The DA reported on Saturday evening that damage and losses to the agriculture sector has so far reached ₱185.83 million, translating to a total production loss of 10,366 metric tons (MT), in Region 4-A, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas.
Despite the millions' worth of losses in agricultural products, farmers were able to save mature crops prior to the arrival of Ambo, amounting to 416,732 MT of rice valued at P7.01 billion and 208,890 MT of corn amounting to P2.17 billion.
About 93,507 hectares have been harvested for rice and 75,467 hectares for corn in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Region 4-A, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.
The rains were beneficial for the water reservoirs in Central Luzon, particularly Angat Dam in Bulacan and Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija, the DA said.