Initial inventories of the Cordillera region’s agricultural sector have revealed at least P17.5 million worth of damage to crops due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, according to the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera office (DA-CAR). The storm has severely impacted the region’s agricultural landscape, particularly in the provinces of Apayao and Kalinga, where 356 farmers have been directly affected.
Crisante Rosario of DA-CAR’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) reported that rice farmers in Kalinga and vegetable farmers in Apayao are among those hit hardest, with 154 hectares of rice and vegetable fields sustaining significant losses.
“We are currently gathering data and information from our provincial coordinating offices on the effect of the typhoon on our agriculture sector,” Rosario said.
While farmers rushed to harvest crops before the storm, they managed to gather only 28,049 metric tons of rice and 102,300 metric tons of corn before Kristine made its landfall. Despite the damage, crop prices in the region remain stable, with daily trading volumes exceeding 1.4 metric tons. Prices for vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and chayote have either remained the same or decreased.
In addition to agricultural losses, the storm has also severely affected local communities. More than a thousand individuals have been reported as “severely affected” by Kristine, with 352 families forced to evacuate their homes.
As of Thursday, October 24, the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) reported that 225 families are taking temporary shelter in 21 evacuation centers across the region, while 127 families have opted to stay with friends and relatives.
Tragically, a farmer in Benguet lost his life after being hit by a landslide in Buguias town. In another incident, the body of a 60-year-old man was recovered in Bontoc town after he fell into the Chico River in Mountain Province.
To date, 31 residences are in a state of ruin, with significant infrastructure damage reported across many national roads. Landslides, road collapses, and flooding are the common effects of Kristine across several provinces.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), at least 2,882 individuals have been affected by the storm.
The DSWD has assured the availability of humanitarian aid and relief packs in the region, with 67,000 food packs and 25,000 non-food relief items prepared, alongside P2.9 million in standby funds. DSWD-Cordillera Director Maria Aplaten Catbagan announced that a total of P26.7 million worth of humanitarian assistance has been provided for the region.
As the region begins to assess and recover from the impact of Kristine, the full extent of the damage and the need for further assistance continues to unfold.
Kristine closes Cordi road
All national roads leading to Baguio except Kennon Road remain open, but Kristine has closed off multiple access roads in the Cordillera region, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The Benguet side of Kennon Road has suffered a road slip at Barangay Twin Peaks, closing off a 33-kilometer stretch of the highway and shutting the road down entirely.
Two national roads have closed down in Apayao temporarily due to road collapses. The Apayao-Ilocos Norte and Calanasan-Ilocos Norte roads are closed, with the first due to a detour road at the ongoing Annaran bridge construction being washed out, and the second road being impassable because of flooding at the Tanglagan bridge detour.
In Ifugao, the Mayoyao-Alfonso Lista-Isabela Road in Banaue town is impassable due to a series of landslides, collapsed soil, and fallen trees.
Kalinga has seen the most road collapses, with two roads in lower Kalinga and four roads in upper Kalinga having either limited accessibility or outright impassibility.
In lower Kalinga, the Manuel Agyao Boulevard and the Tabuk-Banaue via Tanudan-Barlig Road are limited to light vehicles.
In Upper Kalinga, the Kalinga-Abra Road, Balbalan-Pinukpuk Road, Mountain Province-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road and the Lubuagan-Batong Buhay-Abra boundary road are all impassable because of road collapses.
In Mountain Province, the junction in the Talubin-Barlig Natonin-Paracelis Road is not passable.
The DPWH is conducting 24/7 clearing operations and some roads are expected to become passable again in short order.
