LEGAZPI CITY — Severe Tropical Storm Kristine left over P2 billion worth of damage to agriculture, affecting 37,795 farmers and fishermen across the Bicol Region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said in an initial report on Monday.
DA Bicol regional spokesman Lovela Guarin told The Manila Times that the flooding — the worst in over five decades in Bicol — left damaged crops, livestock, fisheries and agriculture infrastructure.
DESTROYED RICEFIELD Farmers in Libon, Albay, try to salvage what is left in their rice field flattened to the ground by massive flooding spawned by continuous rains dumped by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. Over 33,000 rice farmers were affected by the flooding, more so in Albay which suffered the worst flooding in over five decades. PHOTO BY RHAYDZ B. BARCIA