The Department of Agriculture (DA) is taking proactive measures to assist farmers and fishers in preparation for the impact of ‘Aghon,’ which has already intensified into a severe tropical storm.
To assess potential agricultural damage, the DA has started gathering information on agricultural areas at risk through situation reports from its regional field offices.
The agency is also coordinating closely with the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to monitor the storm’s path and intensity.
The DA is also collaborating with national and regional disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) offices, along with local government units, to prepare for the storm’s impact.
Farmers were advised to harvest mature crops as soon as possible, utilize available post-harvest facilities for storage to minimize crop loss, and secure seeds, planting materials, other farm inputs, animal feed, and water for livestock to ensure farming activities can resume quickly after the storm.
Moreover, the DA urged farmers to move animals, farm machinery, and equipment to higher ground to avoid floodwaters and minimize damage. Relocated animals have sufficient food and water to prevent additional stress during the storm, the DA added.
The department, likewise, engaged agriculture stakeholders to clear drainage canals and rice paddies of any obstructions to prevent flooding and protect crops from waterlogging.
On the other hand, fishers were advised to conduct early harvest of fish to minimize post-storm losses and mobilize post-harvest equipment and facilities for processing and storage.
The DA reminded fishermen to secure fishing vessels in safe harbors or higher ground to protect them from strong winds and rough seas, and refrain from venturing out to the seas due to potentially rough sea conditions that could endanger lives and damage boats.
The DRRM Operations Center of DA will continue to provide updates on the situation related to the severe tropical storm.
In its storm update as of 5:00 PM on Sunday, PAGASA said ‘Aghon’ maintained its maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 130 km/h.
The state weather bureau already placed the eastern section of Quezon province (Infanta, Real, and Mauban) including Polillo Islands (Panukulan, Burdeos, Patnanungan, and Polillo) under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3.
“‘Aghon’ will continue to move northeastward towards Polillo Islands. The possibility of intensifying into a typhoon while over the sea east of Quezon is not ruled out,” PAGASA said in its latest weather advisory.