‘Kristine,’ ‘Leon’ agri damage surges to P5.5 billion

Metro Manila, Philippines — Tropical cyclones Kristine and Leon’s damage to agriculture further grew to P5.5 billion, government data showed on Sunday, Nov. 3.

Based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s figures, more than 90,000 hectares of crops were battered by the two consecutive cyclones.

Of the damaged crops, rice was the most widely affected at about 83,000 hectares.

Also destroyed were 105 irrigation systems.

Damage to livestock and poultry, meanwhile, was pegged at P12 million. As to fisheries, it was at P100 million.

Some 106,000 farmers and fisherfolks were paralyzed by the catastrophe.

The government said it has extended P1.1 billion worth of assistance to the victims of the typhoons.