Farmers face uncertainty after Ompong destroys P4.6-B crops in Cagayan

Farmers and their families in Cagayan are now feeling the brunt of Typhoon Ompong's onslaught over the weekend.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras", the damage to crops in the province has reached P4.6 billion.

The extent of agricultural damage is especially felt in Sta. Barbara town, where Laura Casiple's corn farm was washed out into the Chico River.

Casiple appealed for help as her family's house was flooded and that they had nothing to eat.

"Kahit konting tulong sana sir hinihingi namin... Kaya wala naman kaming ibang takbuhan kasi marami naman ang ano dito, ang nadamage na mga taniman," Casiple said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier said that the farm damage of Ompong at P14.27 billion, noting that some 553,704 hectares of agricultural areas were affected, having a volume of production loss of 731,294 metric tons.

Various residences in Cagayan, as well as establishments and government buildings, were severely-damaged by Typhoon Ompong.

According to the local government, storm surge destroyed most of the houses in Puga and Calayan Islands.

Some residents have already started to fix their homes while others constructed temporary shelters.

The Cagayan Electric Company and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines have also continued fixing damaged power lines in the province to restore its electric supply. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News