Typhoon 'Butchoy' destroys P11M in agriculture in W. Visayas

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - Heavy rains and flooding brought about by typhoon Butchoy (international code name: Rammasun) in Western Visayas destroyed at least P11 million in agriculture produce and infrastructure in Negros Occidental and put 40 barangays in Iloilo City under a state of calamity at the weekend. Butchoy was ahead of the more destructive Cosme which hit Northern Luzon. As of late Friday, Negros Occidental lost almost P5 million in agricultural crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry to floods. Damage to palay and corn plantations in five towns and one city reached about P2.5 million while fishery losses in three areas totalled P2.3 million. The Department of Public Works and Highways in Western Visayas also reported that road damage from Bacolod City to southern Negros was around P6 million. As of Friday, more than 16,200 people in at least five towns and cities in southern Negros were affected by floods that claimed the lives of two 15-year-old girls crossing a river in Cuayan town last Wednesday, according to the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council-Office of Civil Defense 6 report. In Iloilo City, 40 flooded barangays were declared under a state of calamity by the city council during a special session on Friday. About 40,000 persons from 8,000 families in Iloilo City were hit by floods last week, based on figures of the City Social Welfare and Development Office. - Nanette L. Guadalquiver, BusinessWorld