Bulusan eruption damages P1.58M worth of agri, fisheries
THE eruption of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon, Bicol has already caused damage to P1.58 million worth of lowland vegetables and fisheries.
In its bulletin no. 4 on Bulusan Volcano Eruption, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 5 (RFO 5) disclosed that 187 farmers and fishers were affected, and 47 hectares of agricultural areas were damaged, with the volume of production loss at eight metric tons in the municipalities of Juban, Casiguran, and Irosin in Sorsogon.
Initially, the DA reported a P16.85 million worth of damages, but there has been a decrease in the total value of production loss, mainly on rice, due to the field validation conducted by DA RFO 5.
The DA RFO 5, in coordination with Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Sorsogon and Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) affected, is closely monitoring the situation in Bulusan, which the volcano is still on alert level 1.
Meanwhile, the DA said they will provide assistance to the affected farmers and fishers.
This assistance includes the distribution of rice, corn, and assorted vegetable seeds; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; Survival and Recovery (SURE) Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC); available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers; and Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas.
The DA, through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center, will continue to issue bulletins regarding the Bulusan volcano eruption.
