By Jennifer P. Rendon and Mariela Angella Oladive
The initial damage to Iloilo province’s agriculture and fisheries sector from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) has exceeded PHP 20 million, according to a recent report by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
A report from the Provincial Agriculture Office, dated Oct. 25, detailed extensive damage to rice, high-value crops, fisheries, and livestock.
Losses in rice crops alone are estimated at PHP 18.676 million, affecting over 500 hectares across various municipalities, with the largest losses in Lemery and Zarraga.
High-value crops, particularly in Alimodian, San Miguel, and Cabatuan, sustained losses totaling PHP 413,001.
Fisheries losses, mainly in Barotac Nuevo, Batad, and Leganes, reached approximately PHP 1.8 million, with shrimp, crab, and fish farms suffering severe damage.
The livestock and poultry sector reported minimal losses of PHP 24,000, with around 50 animals affected.
The report also highlighted damage to fishing vessels, with 13 boats totally destroyed and 79 partially damaged across Miagao and Carles, further impacting local fishermen.
The PDRRMO noted that assessments are ongoing, and the figures may rise as more reports come in from affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI reported that approximately 125,496 families have been impacted by Typhoon Kristine in Western Visayas.
This figure has more than tripled from last Friday’s count of 38,659 affected families.
According to the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report on Oct. 28, around 485,015 individuals have been impacted by the typhoon.
While the number of affected families rose, the number of families in evacuation centers has significantly declined.
From over a thousand, the count dropped to 294 families currently staying in 29 evacuation centers.
Another 841 displaced families are sheltering with relatives or friends.
DSWD-6 reported that Typhoon Kristine affected all six provinces—Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental—and the chartered cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
As the number of affected families increased, so did the number of impacted municipalities and cities.
Recent reports indicate the typhoon has wreaked havoc in 97 municipalities and cities, including Iloilo and Bacolod.
In Aklan, the affected municipalities include Balete, Banga, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Nabas, New Washington, Tangalan, and Libacao.
In Antique, the towns of Anini-y, Barbaza, Caluya, Culasi, Laua-an, Pandan, San Jose, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, Tibiao, and Valderrama were affected.
Kristine also impacted Maayon and Pilar towns, as well as Roxas City in Capiz. In Guimaras, affected towns include Buenavista, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, Jordan, and Sibunag.
In Iloilo, the number of affected towns rose to 36 from the previous 20. These include Ajuy, Anilao, Badiangan, Balasan, Banate, Batad, Barotac Nuevo, Carles, Concepcion, Dingle, Dumangas, Estancia, Igbaras, Lambunao, Leganes, Maasin, Miag-ao, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, Pavia, Passi City, Pototan, San Dionisio, San Enrique, San Joaquin, San Miguel, San Rafael, Tigbauan, Tubungan, and Zarraga.
Negros Occidental also reported impacts in Bago City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Cauayan, EB Magalona, Escalante City, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Hinobaan, Ilog, Isabela, La Carlota City, Murcia, Pontevedra, Sagay City, Don Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Silay City, Sipalay City, Toboso, Valladolid, and Victorias City.
The latest DROMIC report stated that DSWD-6 and affected local government units have provided PHP 23,359,024 in humanitarian assistance.
Of this amount, local government units contributed about PHP 2 million.
Approximately PHP 22.5 million of the total aid consists of family food packs (FFPs) at 27,724 packs, while PHP 831,188 was allocated for non-food items (NFIs).
Atty. May Rago-Castillo, DSWD-6 public information officer, said the agency has available relief resources totaling PHP 220,779,138.
Of this amount, PHP 3 million is a standby fund, and PHP 141,189,699.01 is allocated for food and non-food items (PHP 61 million for FFPs and PHP 56.6 million for NFIs).
Rago-Castillo reiterated that supplies have been strategically prepositioned across various sites in the region.
She also noted a significant increase in the number of damaged houses. From last week’s count of 1,446, the total has risen by 18,547.
Of these, 572 homes were totally destroyed, while 17,915 sustained partial damage.
