Mango farmers in Calasiao, Pangasinan are counting heavy losses after Super Typhoon #UwanPH destroyed large portions of their orchards just days before harvest.

In Barangay Nagsaing, fallen trees, broken branches, and rotting mangoes scattered across the fields show the extent of the damage caused by strong winds.

“Nagbibilang na lang ng araw. Mga one week bago mapitas. ‘Yun nga, sa kasamaan palad, naunang magpitas si Uwan,” Mike Garcia, president of the Calasiao Mango and High Value Crops Farmers Association, Inc., said.

Garcia said many farmers were left heartbroken after losing most of their expected harvest.

“Sobrang lungkot, nakakapanglumo. ‘Yung iba, hindi na nila pinulot dahil magpapagod lang. Walang pagdadalhan, walang pagbebentahan. Maski ipahingi mo, hindi na kukunin,” he added.

According to initial estimates, damages to mango farms have reached P60 million. About 30 percent of the 300-hectare mango plantation area in the town was severely affected.

In Barangay Doyong, farmers are now spraying pesticides on the remaining trees in an effort to save whatever fruits and blossoms survived the storm.

Garcia appealed for help from the government, saying farmers need urgent financial aid to recover.

“Siguro, mas makatutulong kung magkaroon kami ng financial assistance para makagalaw,” he said.

The Calasiao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said it has already submitted the farmers’ consolidated damage report to national agencies for possible assistance.

“Sinubmit na po nila [ng Municipal Agriculture Office] sa mga national agency at ibang mga ahensiya na puwedeng makatulon. Sa ngayon ay hinihintay na ang feedback. And hoping na matugunan nga ‘yung panawagan ng ating mga kababayan para mabigyan sila ng financial assistance,” Kristine Joy Soriano, spokesperson of the Calasiao DRRM Office, said.

The local government is also exploring additional ways to help affected farmers.

Meanwhile, the price of mangoes in the market has dropped to P20 per kilo due to the oversupply of damaged fruits.