Agri Dept: Less than 4% of Bicol harvest goal lost to storm 'Bebeng'

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has pegged at P360 million the farm losses sustained so far from tropical storm “Bebeng." The DA explained that the palay losses are less than 4 percent of Bicol's harvest goal for the first half of this year. Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Masbate lost 19,250 metric tons of palay valued at P347.48 million according to the DA update with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Zambales accounted for the remainder of the crop damage from Bebeng. Ten towns in that province reported P12.57 million worth of rice and high-value crops were lost to the storm. The NDRRMC said there were no reports of farm losses from other regions, because farmers harvested their crops before the storm came. Bebeng affected 78,517 families or 405,095 persons in 12 provinces. The storm left the country on Wednesday morning. By evening, floodwaters in all areas had subsided. — ELR/VS, GMA News