Heavy rains on 26 December last year caused flooding and damages to agricultural crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry. Low-lying towns and those traversed by the Aklan River were severely affected, data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) revealed.

Provincial Agricultural Statistics Officer of BAS-Aklan said the reported damages in Aklan were on palay, corn, aquafarms, vegetables and poultry and livestocks which the office validated.

The validated reports had since been submitted to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office 6 by BAS-Aklan, which would be releasing the reports officially, Delegencia said.

Vegetables, both harvestable and fruiting, suffered the highest loss amounting to P6.2 million, followed by fisheries, which had P3.8 million; livestock and poultry, P2.9 million; corn, P1.3 million and palay, with P1.1 million.

Affected towns included Kalibo, Libacao, Numancia, Banga, Lezo, Madalag and Malinao.

In the case however of fisheries/aquafarms, only Kalibo and Numancia suffered damages, as these towns, being low-lying and along coastal areas, are the only ones with fishponds.

Fighting cock raisers in Numancia also suffered P1.4 million in losses when their farms were submerged in deep flood waters, drowning the roosters.

All the seven listed municipalities suffered losses on their livestock and poultry, vegetable and corn crops, while five reported damages on their palay crops – Lezo, Banga, Malinao, Madalag and Libacao.

The seven affected towns had been declared by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan under the State of Calamity in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Quinta.

Also declared under the State of Calamity was the town of Ibajay, located in the western side of Aklan.