• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
More than a month after the December 9 eruption of Kanlaon volcano, the value of damage to agricultural and fisheries in Negros Occidental has further increased to P129,758,168.52.
In a report submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Agriculturist officer-in-charge Dina Genzola said high value commercial crops still suffered most with damage reported at P124,931,974; rice at P4, 192,837.02; corn at P503,352.50; and P130,005 for fisheries, as of January 13.
Affected are 1,412 farmers in 22 barangays of La Castellana, as well as the cities of Bago and La Carlota in Negros Occidental, who are tilling 624 hectares of farm area, Genzola added.
The damage to agricultural crops in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, is yet to be established.
On the other hand, the Department of Energy has imposed a 15-day price freeze on kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas in Negros Oriental, effective until Jan. 25
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental will also implement a price freeze on basic commodities, as the province faces potential risks from Mt. Kanlaon’s restiveness, an official announced Monday.
DTI-Negros Oriental Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio said that while price freezes are automatic when an area is declared under a state of calamity, the current situation presents unique challenges.
Although only Canlaon City and Vallehermoso are directly affected, the entire province is under a state of calamity.
Virtucio said they are now facing a dilemma on whether to impose a province-wide price freeze or propose a selective one, only for the affected areas.
A meeting is scheduled with the DTI regional offices of Central Visayas and Negros Island Region to discuss the “complicated” situation of Negros Oriental, she added.
DTI teams who regularly monitor the prices of commodities in Canlaon City have reported a slight increase since the eruption last month.
Some of these commodities are sold by as much as P2 higher than the suggested retail price (SRP), Virtucio said.* with PNA reports
