Agri damage in Albay due to Mayon Volcano unrest reaches P6.6 million

The damage to agriculture in Albay as a result of Mayon Volcano's unrest has reached P6.6 million, the province's Provincial Information Office said Wednesday.

A report dated May 5 from the Albay Provincial Agricultural Office (APAO) placed the total agricultural damage at P6,694,229.43, the Albay PIO said.

Palay and High Value Commercial Development Program (HVCDP) crops in the towns of Camalig, Guinobatan, and Daraga were heavily damaged.

Palay

A total of 87 farmers of palay were directly affected by the calamity.

In Camalig, 24.26 hectares of palay were totally damaged, valued at P2,343,470.

In Guinobatan, 17 hectares of palay were partially damaged, estimated to be worth P295,093.42.

In total, damage to palay was estimated to reach P2,638,563.42.

HVCDP crops

Damage to HVCDP crops on the other hand was placed at P4,055,666.01.

This includes damage in the following towns:

• Daraga: 9.25 hectares damaged, worth P2,825,995.06;
• Guinobatan: 22.89 hectares damaged, worth P452,000.00; and
• Camalig: 9.4 hectares damaged, worth P295,093.42.

APAO continues to monitor the situation around Mayon Volcano.

Farmers in Albay are facing severe losses after the ashfall from Mayon Volcano last weekend blanketed many areas with thick ash, destroying crops and threatening livelihoods.

According to a report of GMA News’ Bea Pinlac on Unang Balita Tuesday, vegetable farms in Barangay Sua, Camalig were left covered in heavy ashfall, damaging eggplant, chili, okra, and corn crops that were supposed to be harvested soon.

Local officials said the plants have already withered and are no longer usable.

Alert Level 3 (Intensified Unrest/Magmatic Unrest) remains in effect over Mayon Volcano on Wednesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The volcano continues to pose hazards such as lava flows, lava fountaining, and pyroclastic density currents, among others. —KG, GMA News