Bicol losses P188-M crops due to Mayon, dry season

By Bobby Q. Labalan

Legazpi City--- Farmers in two Bicol provinces lost P188 million worth of crops due to Mayon Volcano eruption and the on-set of the dry season, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bicol regional office reported.

In an interview today, May 6, Lovella Guarin, the DA-Bicol regional information officer, said that the damages were recorded in the provinces of Camarines and Albay for the Month of April and May.

Based on the agency data, the recent Mayon eruption last May 2 had resulted to damages in rice (P0.292 million), corn (P0.044 million), livestock (P0.121 million) and high value crops (P6.5 million) for a total of P6.97 million covering an area36.34 hectares and 126 farmers affected.

Meanwhile, the intensification of the dry season had resulted in the destruction of crops, majority of which were in Camarines Sur, Guarin added.

Damages to rice reached P8.1 million, corn had P7.78 million and the high value crops, which bore the brunt of the dry spell, had P161.4 million, DA-Bicol record showed.

Guarin said that all the data reported were all just partial and they expect more damages as reports from other provinces, particularly on the impact of the dry season, have yet to be received by their office.

The DA-Bicol had sent out advisories and pre-positioned agricultural equipment to mitigate damages to crops and livestock, the official added.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-Bicol had warned of the intensifying dry climate due to the expected occurrence El Nino possibly in the third or last quarter of the year.

Farmers in Calamig, Albay visit theri farms which were heavily damaged by ash fall following the eruption of the Mayon Volcano last May 2, 2026. Photo: FB Page of Camalig Mayor Carlos Baldo.