ABOUT 17 towns and four cities in Cebu province have sustained damage to crops worth P58.2 million as of June 8, the Provincial Agriculture Office said last Friday.
After the submission of their respective damage assessment reports, Provincial agriculture officer Dr. Roldan Saragena identified the affected areas as the cities of Talisay, Danao, Bogo and Toledo as well as the towns of Alegria, Sta. Fe, Tabogon, Consolacion, Sogod, Madridejos, Alcoy, San Fernando, Borbon and Catmon.
Saragena said they expect crop damage to increase once the remaining 27 towns and three cities submit their own damage assessment reports.
Bogo City sustained the biggest losses at P20.5 million followed by Tabogon (P10.4 million), Badian (P8.77 million), Sogod (P4.26 million) and Alegria (P3.87 million).
Saragena said 72 percent of the crops planted by 1,618 farmers in the affected areas last May 3 were damaged due to the El Niño dry spell.
Last June 4, the Cebu provincial government distributed relief packs to more than 800 farmers affected by the dry spell in barangays Balao and Budbud, Barili town, southern Cebu./Correspondent Melissa Q. Cabahug