SORSOGON, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) has caused at least P2.1 billion in damage to agriculture and fisheries in the Bicol Region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the region said on Monday, October 28.
Camarines Sur incurred the highest losses, with initial damage estimated at P1.1 billion, followed by Albay with P403.8 million; Camarines Norte, P226.3 million; Masbate, P264 million; Sorsogon, P108 million; and Catanduanes, P71 million, the agency said.
The total is expected to rise as local governments submit more reports.
The losses include damage to agricultural crops, livestock, and infrastructure, affecting 37,795 farmers and fishers, said Rodel Tornilla, DA-Bicol regional director.
Tornilla said rice was the hardest-hit commodity, with approximately 33,377 hectares of rice fields across Bicol’s six provinces still submerged, resulting in over P1.8 billion in losses.
As part of relief efforts, the National Food Authority (NFA) in Bicol has distributed an initial 2,664 bags of government rice to local governments in Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and Camarines Norte, according to Tornilla.
Following a visit by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., along with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and other officials on Saturday, October 26, an additional four truckloads of NFA rice were delivered to the Camarines Sur provincial government for distribution to affected families.
NFA Regional Director Julie Llenaresas assured the public that the agency has enough stocks for relief operations across the region.
DA-Bicol has also mobilized its Bantay-Presyo teams to monitor agricultural commodity prices in Camarines Sur and Albay, both of which remain under a state of calamity, Tornilla said. – Rappler.com