Hail, tornado destroy P40 M crops in Apayao

PUDTOL, Apayao – Hailstones and a tornado simultaneously hit Apayao Province recently, damaging properties and farm crops valued at P40 million.

The towns of Pudtol, Luna, Santa Marcela, and Flora, all in Apayao, suffered damage estimated at 80 percent of harvestable palay, 90 percent of corn in soft dough stage, and 20 percent of high-value commercial crops, including vegetables and bananas.

Regional agriculture officials, who conducted an inspection in the affected areas, assured the farmers that the Dept. of Agriculture will assist them in recovering from by the calamity.

The barangays that reported damages were Alem and Swan in Pudtol, Bagutong and Malubibit in Flora, Marcela and San Juan in Santa Marcela, and Lappa, Poblacion and Tumog in Luna.
The provincial agriculture office reported that there were 196 farmers who suffered damages in Flora, 70 farmers in Marcela.

In a related development, the Programang Agrikultura Para sa Masa (Gulayan Program) recorded minimal losses in backyard vegetable crops. -- Dexter See