The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday urged farmers and fisherfolk to harvest ahead of the expected landfall of Tropical Storm Paeng. In an advisory, the DA said that based on the combined data of Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the area of standing crops that may be affected by Paeng totals 1,051,518 hectares or 70.59% of the national standing crops for rice and 64,336 hectares or 26.64% of the national standing crops for corn. The department then called on farmers to harvest matured crops and utilize post-harvest facilities. Farmers were advised to secure seed reserves, planting materials, and other farm inputs, as well as feeds and water for livestock; relocate animals, farm machinery, and equipment to higher ground; and clear drainage in irrigation and rice paddies from obstructions to prevent flooding. The DA also urged fishermen to perform early harvest and mobilize post-harvest equipment and facilities; secure fishing vessels on higher ground; and dismiss sea travel as potentially rough conditions prevail over the affected seaboards. As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, the center of Paeng was located 510 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, according to weather bureau PAGASA. It had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h. PAGASA said Paeng "may pass close to Catanduanes on Saturday and a landfall scenario is possible on Sunday in the eastern coast of Aurora or Quezon." "Considering the southward shift in the forecast track, a possible landfall in the eastern portion of [the] Bicol Region is not ruled out at this time," it added. -- VBL, GMA News
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