BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Monsoon rains damaged hundreds of hectares of croplands worth an estimated P12.1 million and affected hundreds of farmers in the resort city of Sipalay alone as heavy downpour, made worse by two storms that have since left, whipped the province since late last week.
The initial damage in the city 164 kilometers or close to four hours by land south from here.
The report said around 334 hectares in 13 villages were affected by rain, affecting a total of more than 300 farmers.
No damage estimate is available yet from Capitol for the other 31 towns and cities in the province as acting Provincial Agriculturist Dinah Genzola is rejecting calls on her mobile phone and had been saying through text message that she is busy with meetings.
She had been busy with meetings since 17 January.
She also said she had already submitted a crop damage report to the office of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson but a check with an aide of Lacson showed she has yet to submit ond.
Three persons were also reported dead in the province due to drowning – a boy, four, here, a teen, 14, in Sipalay, and an elderly man, 69, in Hinobaan town.
