Agriculture damage due to Paeng now at P4.2 billion — NDRRMC

The agriculture sector’s estimated cost of damage due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) has now reached P4.2 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

Based on NDRRMC’s 6 a.m. situational report, the Department of Agriculture (DA) recorded a total of P4,270,676,568.424 production loss or cost of damage in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Bangsamoro Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

At least 109,489 fisherfolks and farmers were also affected by the damage into 121,287.655 hectares of crop area.

Of which, 86,061.775 hectares were partially damaged and still have a chance of recovery, while 36,124 hectares were totally damaged and no longer have chance of recovery.

There were also 5,806 damaged infrastructure, machinery, and equipment because of Paeng.

Cagayan Valley logged the highest amount of damage at P1,217,948,410. 989. This was followed by Bicol Region at P924,124,008.65, and Calabarzon at P726,119,476.09.

The National Irrigation Administration, meanwhile, posted a P96,102,000 cost of damage in Cagayan Valley and the Bicol Region.

Moreover, Paeng’s damage to 820 infrastructure already climbed to P4,665,856,137.88.

Calabarzon still recorded the highest amount of damage, involving 113 infrastructure at P1,245,830,800.

Mimaropa was next with 269 damaged infrastructure amounting to P997,052,772, and then Bicol Region with 180 damaged infrastructure at P793,374,689.99.

The reported death toll due to Paeng, on the other hand, slightly increased to 159 from 158 on Tuesday.

Thirty people were still reportedly missing, while 147 were injured.

There were also 5,299,716 affected people or 1,315,083 families in 9,680 barangays.

At least 214 evacuation centers still catered to 46,255 displaced individuals or 10,283 families, while 1,071,233 people or 215,629 families were staying outside of evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC also recorded 53,229 houses damaged due to Paeng, amounting to P17,286,000. Of these houses, 48,248 were partially damaged, and 4,981 were totally damaged.

There were 112 roads and 58 bridges that were also still not passable.

A total of P223,689,129.43 worth of assistance was already provided in Paeng-hit regions, the NDRRMC added. — Giselle Ombay/GMA Integrated News