Damage caused by Typhoon Odette to rice crops in Western Visayas has so far reached nearly P1 billion.

According to data from the Department of Agriculture (DA-6), as of Sunday, Dec. 19, the amount of damage to rice was estimated at P820 million, affecting more than 27 thousand farmers.

Jimmy Eledia Jr., DA-6’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management focal person, said the damaged rice crops were planted in 28, 748.36 hectares of farmlands.

The cost of damage could increase as the rapid damage assessment on the agriculture sector is still ongoing, he told local reporters.

The province of Negros Occidental was the most affected province in the region in terms of damage to rice at P696, 449, 480.60.

Iloilo came in second with the damage reaching P99, 448, 568.87, followed by Antique (P16, 105, 788.96), Capiz (P6, 034, 080), and Aklan (P2,313, 010.)

Guimaras has yet to submit it assessment report.

Negros Occidental and Guimaras have been placed under a state of calamity due to the severity of the damage caused by the typhoon.IMT/Photo by Dan Manzano