Post by : Badri Ariffin

Floodwaters have overwhelmed parts of the Philippines’ northern island of Luzon as heavy monsoon rains and storms continue to affect communities across the country. The flooding has damaged homes, submerged farmland and left farmers facing growing financial losses.

The latest flooding has created a double blow for Filipino farmers. Many are losing crops because of floodwaters, while those who manage to save their produce are struggling to sell it because of low market prices and disrupted transportation.

In Quezon City, 64-year-old grandmother Elia Jalota is among those affected by the flooding. She is currently staying at an evacuation centre after floodwaters submerged her home and destroyed her small patch of kangkong, a leafy vegetable commonly grown and consumed in the Philippines.

The agricultural damage from the ongoing severe weather has already exceeded 1 billion Philippine pesos (P1 billion), equivalent to around Dh60 million. Vegetable losses alone are estimated at approximately P313 million (Dh18.9 million).

Farmers Face Losses From Floods and Low Prices

Farmers are dealing with problems on multiple fronts. Floodwaters are destroying crops before they can be harvested, while farmers who manage to save their produce are facing weak buying prices.

Transport disruptions caused by flooding are also making it harder to move agricultural products from farms to markets. This has added pressure on farmers who are already dealing with crop damage and rising recovery costs.

The situation is particularly difficult for small-scale farmers, many of whom depend on each harvest for their household income. Continued rainfall could increase crop losses and further disrupt agricultural supply chains.

Farmers Demand Immediate Government Support

The farmers’ movement has called for urgent government assistance for communities affected by the floods. Farmers are seeking support to help them recover from crop losses, protect their livelihoods and rebuild damaged agricultural areas.

Authorities and communities are continuing to deal with the impact of the flooding as more rain is forecast in the Philippines this week.

With monsoon rains expected to continue, concerns remain over further flooding, agricultural damage, food supply disruptions and financial losses for farmers across affected areas of Luzon and other parts of the country.

#Breaking News #Floods #Philippines #Global Updates