Stormy weather leaves P160-M agri damage in NoCot town

February 21, 2021 - Sunday 1:02 PM by PNA

COTABATO CITY – Moderate to heavy rains coupled with strong winds toppled coconut trees and damaged crops in at least two towns in North Cotabato province, officials said Saturday.  

In Tulunan town, about PHP160 million worth of palay due for harvest and other agricultural crops were damaged beyond recovery due to strong winds and heavy downpour since Friday afternoon.  

“The calamity also affected 1,300 farmer-families in at least 15 villages,” Mayor Reuel Limbungan told reporters in an interview.  

“This is a big blow to Tulunan, considered as a major rice-producing town in the province,” he said.  

Limbungan said the municipal agriculture office is still monitoring and validating additional field reports.  

This came as Engr. Arnulfo Villaruz, provincial disaster risk reduction and management action and warning officer, said at least two houses were damaged when coconut trees fell on the houses in the town of President Roxas in the same province. 

 “No one was reported hurt in the incident,” he said.  

The twin incidents came ahead of the expected landfall of Tropical Storm Auring on Sunday that has been affecting parts of Mindanao and the Visayas regions. Edwin Fernandez