Benguet capital declares state of calamity as floods destroy farms, claim lives
LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET—The municipal government of La Trinidad has placed this Benguet capital under a state of calamity after torrential rains caused the Balili River to overflow, flooding farmlands and claiming two lives.
Mayor Roderick Awingan signed the resolution on July 29 as floodwaters hit vegetable farms and submerged the town’s tourist-drawing strawberry fields, destroying P14.768 million worth of crops and posting P15 million in infrastructure damage. At least 45 households were directly affected.
The declaration, which will enable the town to use its calamity funds for relief and rehabilitation operations, followed the deaths of two government workers earlier that day when their truck fell into a ravine while on their way to clear landslide debris.
La Trinidad is home to major vegetable trading hubs supplying Metro Manila with salad crops like beans, lettuce, cauliflower, and broccoli.
Drainage project
Many of these farms are in flood-prone lowlands, including the strawberry fields, which were once a natural swamp. A drainage project is being prepared to mitigate recurring floods.
In Zambales province, combined losses from the southwest monsoon and Tropical Cyclones “Crising” (international name: Wipha), “Dante” (Francisco), and “Emong” (Co-may) have reached over P59 million, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist on Wednesday.
Damage to rice fields alone reached P40.7 million, while high-value crops posted P2.4 million in losses.
Livestock losses were pegged at P676,500. Damage to fishing boats and gear reached P1.46 million, and aquafarms sustained P14.3 million in losses.
At least 45 families, or 136 people, remained in evacuation centers across Zambales as monsoon rains continued to batter the province.
