Odette causes P614M damage to Leyte's coco industry

Typhoon Odette caused PHP614.27 million in damage to the coconut industry in Eastern Visayas, destroying over 10 million trees and affecting 82,370 farmers.

PCA Region 8 manager Joel Pilapil said that 57,367 metric tons of nuts ready for harvesting were wasted by the typhoon's strong winds.

The PCA has started shipping out some 15,000 coconut seednuts to affected areas using military trucks and is working on debris management and lumber utilization.

Of the estimated PHP8-billion damage in agriculture, PHP1.58 billion are in the coconut sector with 10 million coconut trees damaged beyond recovery.