Masbate: The National Irrigation Administration in Bicol (NIA-5) has reported nearly PHP76 million in damage to various irrigation facilities and crops in Masbate caused by Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi) in the last week of September.

According to Philippines News Agency, engineer Gaudencio de Vera, NIA regional manager, stated in an interview on Thursday that Opong destroyed PHP70 million worth of communal irrigation systems and PHP5.9 million worth of crops. Reports from NIA-5’s Masbate office indicate that 17 areas across 10 municipalities were affected, with six irrigation systems destroyed, impacting 173 farmers across 304 hectares of land.

“I have already submitted the report to our central office for programming repairs. We hope that the major repairs will be included in the budget for 2026, as it is currently being prepared,” de Vera said. He emphasized that local personnel are prioritizing data collection to assess the full extent of the damage.

“NIA staff is also managing the office since some areas were damaged, and the personnel themselves require assistance, as they have also been affected. We are coordinating with local government units and the Department of Agriculture to ensure that farmers report damage incurred,” he added. Meanwhile, NIA-Masbate has provided free charging stations for electronic devices and water refilling stations for household needs.