WATCH OUT. Agriculture Secretary William Dar warns farmers and fisherfolk who may be affected by the approaching Typhoon ‘Bising’ to keep their guards up. He advised them to harvest early if possible. (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has warned farmers and fishermen whose areas will be in the path of the approaching Typhoon "Bising".
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration's forecast on "Bising" (International name: Surigae), released 11 a.m. on Friday, showed a low chance of landfall as it will likely re-curve away from the Philippine landmass, while heading towards the Eastern Visayas or Bicol regions.
It was last spotted 960 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Friday said they have already tapped its disaster risk reduction and management operations centers to provide updates on the movement of the weather disturbance "considering the uncertainty in the track forecast".
"We advise our farmers in Bicol and Eastern Visayas that may be affected by Typhoon Bising to harvest their crops, whenever possible," Dar said.
He also advised fishermen near the typhoon’s path to take precautionary measures and refrain from fishing as conditions may worsen.
Dar already ordered regional directors in Eastern Visayas, Bicol, and Northern Mindanao to mobilize their disaster risk reduction and management teams and monitor areas that may be affected.
In a report to Dar, Eastern Visayas director Angel Enriquez said there are currently more than 125,000 hectares (ha) planted with rice under reproductive (62,972 ha) and maturity stages (62,902 ha), and 460 ha planted with corn.
Enriquez has issued an advisory to Eastern Visayas provinces, through agricultural program coordinating offices, to conduct inventory of available buffer stocks and encourage farmers to conduct early harvesting. (PNA)
