• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Damage to agricultural crops, fisheries, and livestock in Negros Occidental, caused by heavy rains and flooding triggered by the southwest monsoon, has risen to P6,320,730 in Negros Occidental as of September 30, based on reports of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture and Provincial Veterinary Office.
Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola, in her report to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, said that 259 hectares of rice fields in 39 barangays of nine local government units were damaged by flooding, which affected 351 farmers.
OPA pegged the cost of the damage at P6,117,219.
Damage to fisheries was reported at P182,250.
Provincial Veterinarian Placeda Lemana also reported P21,261 in damage to livestock, which affected 12 households in Valladolid, as well as the cities of Bago and La Carlota.
Lemana said that PVO served eight animal raisers by evacuating 36 heads of animals to the District 5 Animal Rescue Center in Barangay 1, Moises Padilla.
LPA
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said an LPA (low pressure area), which has been spotted 1,360 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon, has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression (TD) within 24 hours.
“Once the LPA develops into TD, its projected track is similar to tropical cyclone Nando. South of Nando’s track is also not ruled out,” PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.
Servando said the TD, which would be given the local name Paolo, is expected to cause rains across Northern Luzon by Friday.
“It could possibly make landfall over the Cagayan area. It might reach the tropical storm category prior to landfall,” he added.* with PNA reports
