‘Florita’ leaves P194 Million worth of damage to agriculture in Cagayan

CAGAYAN — Severe tropical storm Florita, which brought heavy rains and strong winds, left considerable damages to agriculture and infrastructure, and sent thousands of families fleeing to safer areas owing to massive flooding.

Three people – one each in Tuguegarao, Enrile, and Allacapan — were reported injured after they were hit by trees felled by Florita’s strong winds.

Based on the latest report from Rogelio Sending Jr., Cagayan provincial information officer, the initial damage to agriculture had been estimated to be around P194,360,559.46.

The breakdown of damage to agriculture: rice – P40,867,454.46; Corn – P128,670,105; fisheries – P9,489,000 and fishponds – P15,334,000.

The estimated damage to livestock is pegged at P191,545.

Florita also affected 3,700 families (12,394 individuals) in 153 barangays.

A total of 2,349 families (7,168 individuals) were evacuated.

Heavy rains inundated low-lying areas during Florita’s onslaught, rendering some bridges and roads in the province impassable. These included Capatan Overflow Bridge in Capatan, Tuguegarao City; Sitio Masin road in Solana, Tuguegarao, and the Provincial Road (Dungan-Nanurangan-Anungu-Anurturu-Minanga road).