Cebu City agri suffers P47-million damage due to ‘Tino’

Local

NEARLY ₱47 million worth of agricultural products and livestock were lost across upland barangays in Cebu City after Typhoon Tino battered the city on Nov. 4.

This left thousands of farmers reeling from the storm’s aftermath.

Despite the agricultural setback, the City Agriculture Department (CAD) assured the public that there will be no significant price hike in the Carbon Public Market or other retail outlets, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a price freeze on basic commodities to prevent overpricing in the wake of the disaster.

CAD head Joey Baclayon said the city’s vegetable supply remains stable, noting that neighboring areas can augment the shortfall in local production.

“Cebu City contributes about 40 to 50 percent of the vegetable supply, but any shortage can be addressed by neighboring areas like Dalaguete and Cagayan, which were not heavily affected by the typhoon,” he explained.

In its preliminary assessments, the CAD reported that approximately 998 hectares of farmland planted mostly with sweet corn, assorted vegetables, and bananas were ravaged by strong winds and heavy rains across the mountain barangays of Sudlon II, Lusaran, Paril, Cambinocot, Guba, and Buot.

Baclayon said about 4,000 farmers were affected, many of whom depend solely on farming for their livelihood.

He noted that aside from extensive crop losses, the storm also crippled irrigation systems vital to sustaining farm operations.

“The major damage aside from the crops was on their water supply systems. Most of the hoses connected to springs were washed out, so our priority now is to help them reconnect their irrigation sources,” Baclayon said.

The department has begun coordinating with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to expedite the processing of insurance claims for affected farmers.

Baclayon said insured crops and livestock will be assessed immediately so claimants can receive aid within the next few weeks.

To jumpstart recovery, the CAD will distribute assorted vegetable seeds, drums, and other planting materials to help farmers replant as soon as possible.

The typhoon also resulted in the loss of around 200 farm animals, mostly pigs, along with several cows and goats that were swept away by flash floods near rivers and creeks.

In response, the Cebu City Government will extend financial assistance ranging from ₱5,000 to ₱10,000 per affected farmer, depending on the extent of their losses.(TGP)