The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Office in the Bicol region have imposed a price freeze on all basic agricultural commodities across Masbate province after extensive damage caused by Typhoon Opong (international name: Bualoi ).
In a phone interview on Tuesday, DA Bicol information officer Lovella Guarin said the price freeze aims to ease the burden on affected communities after the storm ravaged major agricultural areas in the island province last Friday.
She said that a total of 1,394 farmers and fisherfolk were affected, with over 1,000 hectares of farmland devastated.
According to the initial assessment, 781 hectares were damaged, while 219 hectares were destroyed. The combined production loss amounted to 1,236 metric tons.
Guarin noted that the rice sector was heavily impacted, with 637 farmers affected and losses totaling nearly 394 metric tons, valued at P5.64 million. The hardest-hit area for rice was Masbate, where 487 farmers reported losses of 256 metric tons, valued at P3.84 million. Other affected provinces include Albay, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte.
‘Based on initial reports collected from the ground, about P42.85 million worth of agricultural crops have been lost across the Bicol region so far due to Opong,’ Guarin said