Agriculture Secretary William Dar said yesterday that P3 billion in agriculture have been damaged by the eruption of Taal Volcano.
The fisheries sector was the hardest hit with estimated losses pegged at about P1.6 billion, Dar said during the MB Hot Seat roundtable discussion.
The Agriculture Secretary said widespread fish kills are being reported due to the low oxygen and high sulfur levels found in bodies of water near the Taal Volcano.
“They (fishes) cannot be of use anymore because they have already ingested toxic elements,” Dar said.
Coffee, cacao, pineapples, vegetables, rice, and coconuts were among some of the most damaged crops.
Data from the Department of Agriculture-Region 4-A or the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources showed that 15,790 hectares and 1,923 animals were affected by Taal Volcano.
Despite this, Dar said there should be no price increase in basic goods in Metro Manila.
He said they have tapped regional and provincial officials to mobilize supplies from Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region to fill the gaps for the low supplies coming from Southern Luzon.
“Hindi po dapat gagalaw masyado ang presyo,” he said. “Of course, there will always be a little movement, but not as much, because there is sufficient supply.” (Minka Tiangco)