Ambo damage to agriculture balloons to P1.04 billion

Damage to the agriculture sector due to Typhoon Ambo, which has already weakened into a low pressure area, swelled overnight to breach P1 billion, data released by the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed.

According to the DA, as of 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, total amount of damage and losses caused by Ambo ballooned to P1.04 billion from P185.53 million the previous day.

This brought total volume production loss of 62,228 metric tons covering 20,652 hectares of agricultural areas and 21,655 farmers and fisherfolk.

"The vast increase is due to the updated reports from CALABARZON, Bicol and Eastern Visayas Regions, and additional reports from Central Luzon," the DA explained in a statement.

Motorists make their way through uprooted coconut trees and electric pylons along the highway near Oras town, Eastern Samar on Friday, May 15, 2020, a day after Typhoon Ambo (international name: Vongfong) hit the town. The typhoon dumped heavy rains and torn off roofs since it roared ashore on central Samar island on Thursday, May 14.  Alren Beronio/AFP

Previous data only covered Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

According to the DA, 73% or P755.57 million of the total damage and losses came from reports on high value crops, of which 87% or P602.06 million were accounted for by banana and papaya in the Quezon province.

Ambo is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday. —KG, GMA News