BAGUIO CITY - An estimated P48.8 million worth of agricultural crops such as rice, high value crops, livestocks, poultry and fisheries were damaged as flash flood struck Banaue town in Ifugao on Thursday, July 7.
According to the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera, about 768 farmers were affected after their newly planted rice on the terraces, most of which were indigenous rice grown in Ifugao, were damaged.
In an update released by the Cordillera Region Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils on July 10, a total of 45 business establishments in Barangay Amnganad and Poblacion also suffered from the wrath of flash flood.
Consequently, the Department of Tourism-Cordillera suspended the tourism activities and temporarily banned tourists from heading to Banaue while the restoration is underway.
A total of 1,052 families from nine barangays were affected by flash floods and mudslides. Three houses were totally damaged, while 1,044 were partially damaged.
A total of 28 motorcycles, tricycles and vehicles were also damaged, while seven were partially damaged during the height of the mudslides.
The town of Banaue was placed under state of calamity on June 8 by the Sangguniang Bayan through Resolution No. 61 series of 2022 which allows the use of 30% quick response fund 2022 to facilitate immediate repairs and rehabilitation to return the municipality and barangays to normal situation.
According to Jovita Ganonngan, regional director of the Department of Tourism-Cordillera, they are still waiting for the advice of the local government unit on whether tourists can go to Banaue.
Banaue is known as a tourist destination because of its beautiful rice terraces and tourism is one of the sources of income here.