BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City –Typhoon “Quinta” (international name: Molave) destroyed an estimated P36 million worth of crops and livestock in Negros Occidental.
Initial assessment from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed that thousands of hectares of land planted with rice and other crops in the cities of Sipalay, Cadiz and Bago, as well as the municipalities of Hinoba-an, Moises Padilla and Isabela were damaged, with losses reaching P35 million.
Atty. Japhet Masculino, provincial agriculturist, said he expects the amount to increase as other local government units affected by floods have yet to submit their reports to his office.
Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, also reported more than P1 million in damage to livestocks in areas of Hinobaan, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Binalbagan, Valladolid, San Enrique, cities of Bago and La Carlota.
Majority of livestock died as a result of drowning (were cows, carabaos, gamefowls, pigs, and goats).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) earlier warned residents in areas hit by “Quinta” to brace for another stormy weekend, as it kept its sights on a tropical depression outside of the Philippine territory but forecast to move toward Bicol by Saturday.
Once inside the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be named “Rolly,” the 18th cyclone in the country for this year./PN
