MAASIN CITY, Oct. 30 (PIA) -- An official of the Department of Agriculture in Eastern Visayas has assessed the extent of damage wrought by torrential rains due to Tropical Storm Paeng to the basic food staple rice and corn in Southern Leyte province.

Larry Sultan, assistant regional director for operations and extension at the DA regional office, reported the damage to those agricultural crops in the amount of P2,091,864 for a total volume of 131 metric tons and covering 101 hectares.

Sultan bared the report during the online Kapihan sa PIA Eastern Visayas on Sunday, October 30, hosted by Sol Alarcon.

The data gathered was still the result of their initial assessment, Sultan clarified, as they are still consolidating damage to agriculture crops other than rice and corn, such as destroyed vegetable farms, rootcrops, and the sector on fisheries.

Out of the six provinces in the region, Leyte province had the lion’s share of the damage involving 1,376 hectares of riceland with an estimated amount of P28 million.

Sultan said that for the whole Eastern Visayas region the initial total damage to agriculture products was placed at P57,797,597.  (MMP with reports from Dahlia Abiera Orit/RP-Sogod)