The Task Force El Niño said on Wednesday, Feb. 28, that it expects some 80 provinces and 275,000 hectares of farm land would end up being affected by the El Niño phenomenon that had been causing devastation to the country’s agricultural sector.

(Photo courtesy of Department of Agriculture-PhilRice)

As of Feb. 25, Task Force El Niño spokesman Joey Villarama confirmed that the number of affected provinces is up to 51 from the earlier reported 41.
 

“The last time I was here, I mentioned 41 provinces iyong affected. Actually, as of Feb. 25, 51 na. Tataas pa iyan to 73, and then aabot ng otsenta bago bumaba ulit sa 50 plus (It will increase to 73, then it will reach 80 before it decreases again to 50 plus),” he said during the Bagong Pilipinas briefing.
 

“So, sinabi natin na ang effects ng strong and mature El Niño ay magpe-persist until May to June (we also said that the effects of strong and mature El Niño will persist until May to June),” he added.
 

Among those added to the initial list of 41 provinces are provinces from Region 1 and 4B (MIMAROPA), particularly Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental.
 

Villarama said that the current reports on the devastation of farmlands were just a “small part” as this only showed 6,600 hectares of affected farms.
 

He cited National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) projections that around 275,000 hectares will be affected by El Niño.
 

But the official assured that the government has enough supply of rice and food, and called on affected areas to declare a State of Calamity so that the national government can come in and provide aid.
 

Currently, he said that two towns in Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental have already declared a State of Calamity, which means the quick response fund from the Department of Agriculture (DA) can be activated for rehabilitation of agricultural land and additional farm input.
 

As for the farmers’ daily needs, there will be a cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the cash-for-work program by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
 

He also noted that DA officials already went to Mindoro province to provide P5,000 worth of rice assistance and fuel subsidy.
 

Earlier, the official cited that 17 provinces were affected by the dry condition, 10 provinces were under a dry spell, and 14 provinces were experiencing drought.
 

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