Around 4,000 farmers in Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula are feeling the brunt of the El Niño phenomenon as the regions’ agricultural sector is among the hardest hit, the Task Force El Niño said on Sunday, Feb. 18.
 

(Photo by Nana Buxani/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Joel Villarama, the task force’s spokesman, said that the agricultural damage in the regions already reached P151.3 million.
 

“Ang pinsala diyan sa huling tala ng Department of Agriculture ay umabot na sa P151.3 million (Based on the latest record of the Department of Agriculture already reached P151.3 million),” the official shared in Super Radyo dzBB interview.
 

“Ang bulk niyan mga 93 percent ay sa palay at ‘yung remaining six percent ay sa mais. So, ito na ‘yung mga hindi na maisasalba na crops (The bulk of that around 93 percent is rice and the remaining six percent is corn. So, these crops could not be saved),” he added.
 

Right now, the El Niño phenomenon is at a “strong or mature level,” Villarama said, noting that there will be a reassessment of the impact of the El Niño this mid-February.
 

He also shared that there could be an increase in the list of 41 provinces that are heavily affected by the phenomenon. This number was already down from the initial list of 50 provinces.
 

Earlier, the official cited that 17 provinces are currently experiencing dry condition, 10 provinces are under a dry spell, and 14 provinces are experiencing drought.
 

Those experiencing drought are Apayao, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, and Pangasinan.
 

Meanwhile, Villarama said that the 4,000 farmers affected by the ongoing phenomenon will receive assistance from the DA and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
 

He cited several strategies in farming to be integrated into the current processes, so farmers can continue planting rice.
 

These strategies include the “alternate wetting and drying,” and “quick turnaround.”
 

However, Villarama also noted that the DA is anticipating possible infestations in some farms due to the extreme heat.
 

“In the meantime, bibigyan muna ng ayuda ang mga farmers na naapektuhan. Tapos bibigyan sila ng alternative na pwedeng pagkakitaan (the affected farmers would be given aid. They will also be given alternative livelihood),” he said.
 

“Namigay ng mga domestic animals, ng livestock para 'yun muna ang alternative na pagkakitaan ng mga magsasaka. Tapos patuloy pa rin ang pagbibigay ng mga heat tolerant, heat resistant na punla (The farmers will be given domestic animals and livestock as alternative livelihood. They will also be given heat tolerant, heat resistant seedlings).”