The southwest monsoon that wrought havoc in the last three days damaged some P1.095 billion worth of crops, livestock and fishery products in Central Luzon.
Based on the initial assessment report of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), the amount covered damage to rice, corn, high- value crops, livestock and fisheries in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Zambales.
OCD regional director Josefina Timoteo said the figures were only partial as the other provinces have yet to submit their reports.
The fisheries sector reported the biggest loss of P691.63 million due to damaged fishponds and fish cages. Pampanga was hardest hit with P601.067 million in losses, followed by Bulacan with P72.67 million and Zambales with P17.89 million.
The crops in the three provinces were also devastated by the massive flooding with an estimated P371.75 million loss.
The initial damage in the rice sector was pegged at P371.27 million with Pampanga sustaining the most losses at P233.98 million; Bulacan at P121.54 million and Zambales at P15.75 million.
Estimated damage to the corn sector in Pampanga alone was valued at P76.74 million.
Damage to high-value crops such as vegetables in the three provinces totaled at P22.27 million with Pampanga losing P11.97 million; Bulacan, P7.89 million; and Zambales, P2.41 million.
The total damage to livestock was valued at P10.25 million, with an estimated loss in Zambales at P7.57 million, followed by Bulacan at P2.45 million and Pampanga at P288,500.
Agriculture officials said they expected a rise in the statistics as more reports come this week.
Andrew Villacorta, regional director of the Department of Agriculture, said they were still awaiting updated reports from various provinces and towns in the region.
Villacorta said the reports would be validated and would include a master list of all affected farmers in the region for assistance.   PNA