Floods in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines, have submerged the well-known Strawberry Farm, damaging crops of strawberries, lettuce, and cabbage. The flooding followed days of heavy rain brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), a low-pressure area, and localized thunderstorms, according to PAGASA. Farmers reported that some of the crops had only recently been planted in preparation for the December harvest. The damage raises concerns over potential supply shortages later in the year.
Residents of Sitio Bayabas in La Trinidad were caught off guard by muddy floodwaters rushing down from the mountain during the downpour on Sunday. While the water entered homes, no injuries were reported. In Poblacion Buyagan, streets quickly turned into rivers under the heavy rainfall.
Elsewhere in northern Luzon, a massive rockslide temporarily closed the Barlig-Natonin National Road in Mountain Province, disrupting transport links.
Further south, in Zamboanga City, responders evacuated residents after waist-deep floods affected around 300 families. Elmier Apolinario, chief of the Zamboanga City DRRMO, said, "There was a section of the wall that divided 'yung subdivision. Nag-breach ng malakas na tubig so, pumasok sa subdivision."
The Department of Agriculture has yet to release estimates on crop damage in Benguet and other affected provinces. Benguet remains a key production area for highland vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, and carrots, as well as strawberries that supply both domestic markets and tourism-related sales.
Source: GMA News Online
