Fewer rains expected
MANILA, Philippines — Fewer rains are expected as Tropical Depression Neneng has exited the Philippine area of responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Neneng weakened into a low-pressure area around 5 p.m. yesterday and is expected to move further westward and will no longer affect the country.
The southwest monsoon prevails and will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms in Ilocos Region, Batanes, Cagayan and Apayao.
Meanwhile, a new LPA formed outside PAR has a “medium” chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours.
However, PAGASA weather specialist John Manalo said that after developing into a tropical depression, it may dissipate, favoring another weather disturbance outside PAR.
Manalo said it will favor a tropical storm, with international name Saudel, last located at 2,745 km east of Eastern Visayas.
Saudel has a potential to enter PAR and will be given the local name Obet.
It will be the 15th tropical cyclone in the country this year and the fourth this month after Luis, Maymay and Neneng.
**Agricultural damage reaches P1.7 billion **
Agricultural damage from recent storms have now exceeded P1 billion, as continuous rainfall devastates farmlands across the country.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that damage and losses from tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, Neneng and the southwest monsoon or habagat have amounted to P1.73 billion, as of Aug. 20.
Total affected farmers amounted to 50,277 spanning 40,954 hectares of agricultural areas throughout seven regions – the Cordillera Administrative Region, llocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas.
About 43,220 metric tons of crops were lost.
About 31,721 hectares, or 77.5 percent of affected farmland, still had a chance to be recovered, while the remaining 9,232 hectares are considered beyond recovery.
Among the most affected farm products was rice, with a total volume of lost harvest at 26,921 MT across 3,696 hectares of farmland valued at P974.82 million. This was followed by high-value crops, with volume lost logged at 12,492 MT, spanning across 2,849 hectares and valued at P540.11 million.
Up to P210.93 million worth of agricultural inputs such as rice, corn and vegetable seeds will be distributed to affected farmers.
The National Food Authority will also issue 3,631 bags of rice to local government units in Ilocos Region, Cagayan, Central Luzon and Mimaropa.
State of calamity
Due to the widespread flood and damage brought by the recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon, Bulacan was placed under a state of calamity.
Pampanga has been under a state of calamity since Aug. 12.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has urged local government units and the public to strengthen solid waste management and initiate preventive measures to reduce the risks of flooding triggered by heavy rainfall amid the monsoon.
Police officers deployed for disaster response operations in areas affected by the southwest monsoon have been equipped with essential support systems for their protection. – Adrian Kenneth Halili, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Emmanuel Tupas
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