CamSur rice producers to suffer P300-M loss due to TS ‘Enteng’

By Paulo DS. Papa

RICE producers in Camarines Sur are expected to incur approximately P300 million in losses due to widespread flooding caused by heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Enteng last week.

Lovely Guarin, spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, confirmed in an interview that the estimated losses are due to 8,477 hectares of rice fields being submerged by the flood.

She mentioned that 60 percent of the affected rice fields may recover once the floodwaters recede.

Guarin also revealed that a total of 13,623 rice farmers and fisherfolk in the Bicol region were impacted by the calamity, including 13,372 rice farmers from 17 municipalities in Camarines Sur, such as Milaor and Minalabac, among others.

Despite the damage, the DA has prepared rice seedlings and distributed them to municipal agricultural offices. These seedlings will be provided to the affected rice farmers in the flood-hit areas, Guarin added.

She also stated that farmers must submit reports detailing the extent of losses in their plantations due to the flooding.

The region suffered over P315 million in agricultural damage caused by Typhoon Enteng, with around P94 million of that total attributed to Camarines Sur.