PILI, CAM. SUR -- More than P80 million worth of potential rice yield by farmers in the 3 Bicol provinces were lost due to the continuous rains and floods in the past several weeks.

        With the devastations on rice plant, mostly in their seedling and vegetative stage, the Department of Agriculture in Bicol is now sourcing certified seeds from other regions to assist the affected farmers.

        In her report to Dr. Jose V. Dayao, regional executive director of DA Bicol, Marilyn Sta Catalina, regional technical director for operations & regulatory and in-charge of the rice program in the region said that as of January 19, 2009 partial damage report , only 8 towns and Naga City in the province of Cam. Sur, 10 towns from Catanduanes and 3 towns from Sorsogon have submitted their damage report

        In Cam. Sur, of the 8,773.48 hectares (has.) affected, about 2,657.07 has. were totally damaged while the 6,116.41 has. still have a chance of recovery. The estimated production losses is 11,460.08 metric tons of palay amounting to P65,421,224.95. According to Sta Catalina the damage reports came from Bombon, Buhi, Cabusao, Calabanga, Canaman, Libmanan, Magarao, Siruma and the city of Naga, all in Cam. Sur.

        In Catanduanes, the towns of Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato, Gigmoto, Pandan, Panganiban, San Andres, San Miguel, Viga and Virac reported a total area of 3,645.53 has. affected by continuous rains and floods. Of these, about 842.26 has. were totally damage while the 2,803.27 has., still have a chance of recovery. The estimated palay losses is 4,404.94 mteric tons amounting to P14,596,560.48.

        The total area affected from the towns of Barcelona, Juban and Sta Magdalena, all in Sorsogon is 447 has. Of these, 197.63 has. were totally damaged while the remaining 249.37 has. still have a chance of recovery with an estimated lost in production of about 397.69 metric tons amounting to P513,227.47.

        Sta Catalina said that the damage report is expected to increase if all the affected rice areas in the region will have turned in their reports and if rains will continue the next days.

        In the meanwhile, Sta Catalina bares that the local productions of certified seeds by the seedgrowers in the region is not enough to supply the needed requirement to assist the affected farmers.

        She said that Director Dayao had already ordered them to source out supply of certified seeds from other regions and to immediately distribute to affected farmers in the form of government assistance.

        She also urges the local government units (LGUs) through their respective Municipal Agriculturists to submit damage reports to enable the DA to determine the total number of certified seeds to be distributed to affected farmers. (da/rafid5/Jennis i. nidea)