Rice fields suffer wrath of Bulusan blast

The latest eruption of Mt. Bulusan has damaged up to 2,000 hectares of rice fields with standing palay crop of 10,000 metric tons (MT), the Department of Agriculture said Wednesday. The volcano erupted Thursday last week after a week of silence, sending steam and ash 500 meters above the crater. Heavy ash fall from the explosion also damaged some 20 hectares planted to root crops and vegetables such as bitter gourd, eggplant, and string beans. Also at risk are coconut, abaca, and banana plantations as the wind has begun drifting southwest toward the agricultural towns of Irosin, Bulusan, and Matnog. Early estimates place the damage to agriculture at P3 million, although the amount is expected to rise once the Agriculture Department consolidates its field and validation reports. A report by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) shows that Bulusan hazard zones cover 60 barangays in six municipalities, namely Bulusan, Matnog, Irosin, Juban, Casiguran, and Barcelona. As of Wednesday afternoon, the alert status in the area of Mt. Bulusan remains at level one, which means the source of activity is shallow and hydrothermal. The damage to the crops and fisheries are still being validated. — With Paterno Esmaquel II/VS, GMA News