Inday, ‘habagat’ leave P885M in farm losses across BARMM

SWAMPED FIELDS Floodwaters inundate farming communities in Malidegao, Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area, in this July 11 photo. —BARMM READi photo COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — Damage to agriculture in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) caused by Super Typhoon Inday (international name: Bavi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon (“habagat”) has reached nearly P885 million, a regional disaster official said on Sunday. Muhammad Farzieh Abutazil, executive director of the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), said losses to the agriculture sector had climbed to P876,960,429 as of Sunday, with the mainland provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur sustaining the heaviest damage. BARMM also includes the island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Typhoon Inday death toll in Mindanao hits 18; 14 persons missing Typhoon Inday, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on July 8 and exited on July 11, enhanced the southwest monsoon, triggering days of heavy rains that inundated farming communities across mainland BARMM. Photos released by Bangsamoro READi showed floodwaters submerging agricultural areas planted with palay, corn, coconut and other crops. A detailed breakdown of crop losses has yet to be released. READ: 4,500 families in Calabarzon affected by Inday, habagat Citing a report from the Bangsamoro Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, Abutazil said the poultry sector incurred about P5 million in losses, while damage to the fisheries sector was estimated at P500,000. Article continues after this advertisement Infra damage Infrastructure damage, including to roads, bridges and government buildings, was initially estimated at P4.1 million, he added. Among the hardest-hit areas was Northern Kabuntalan in Maguindanao del Norte, where floodwaters submerged the municipal government center and town hall compound for about three days. Article continues after this advertisement As of Sunday, 3,225 families remained in 22 evacuation centers in the municipalities of Parang, Sultan Mastura, Matanog and Northern Kabuntalan in Maguindanao del Norte; Datu Piang and Mamasapano in Maguindanao del Sur; and Picong in Lanao del Sur. Overall, the twin weather disturbances affected 127,960 families, or about 639,800 individuals, in 415 barangays across BARMM. The death toll in the region remained at seven, while four people were injured and six remained missing following a landslide that struck Barangay Ngingir in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur, in the early hours of July 10. “Search operations for the missing persons are continuing,” Abutazil said. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Across Mindanao, at least 24 people died during the onslaught of Typhoon Inday, based on data gathered by the Inquirer from official government sources. /cb