AGRICULTURAL damage from the recent tropical depression and southwest monsoon had reached P10.33 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In its latest bulletin, the agency said the combined effects of Tropical Depression Carina and Butchoy had affected about 873 rice, corn and high-value crop farmers, based on initial reports from the Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Caraga regions.
The state weather bureau said in an 11 a.m. bulletin on Sunday that Carina had been raised to a tropical storm and was last seen 545 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora province.
It was moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Carina was expected to reach severe tropical storm category by Monday.
Tropical Depression Butchoy left the Philippine area of responsibility on July 20. — Adrian H. Halili
