La Union reports PHP 11.1 million in farm damages after Tropical Depressions Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon (“habagat”) bring days of heavy rain and flooding to the province. The provincial government says damage reaches 472 hectares of agricultural land planted with rice and high-value crops, and also affects fish farms. The affected areas are in the municipalities of Agoo, Bauang, Pugo, Bagulin, Naguilian, and San Gabriel.
The reported agricultural losses include palay (rice) losses of PHP 946,846, fruit damage of PHP 2,030,745, vegetable losses of PHP 7,548,236, and root crop losses of PHP 2,600. Fishery losses are estimated at PHP 295,110, while irrigation damages account for PHP 300,000. The reports link the extent of the damage to prolonged adverse weather conditions associated with the storms and the monsoon.
