EL NIÑO PHENOMENON DAMAGED REACH TO P6.3 BILLION, DA

Rising destruction in agriculture sector (Photo courtesy of Walter Bollozos/Philippine Star)

The damage to agriculture caused by the El Niño phenomenon has reached P6.3 billion, according to Department of Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa. With 60,000 hectares of land damaged, P3.3 billion worth of damage to rice fields, P1.9 billion to cornfields, while P1 billion to high-value commercial crops.

The damage was greatest in the Mimaropa, Western Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region. Meanwhile, due to the effect of El Niño, the soil in the sugarcane fields and cornfields in Negros Occidental has become dry and cracked. Farmers call on the government, rice aid until they can plant again and harvest.

The unusual elevation of sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean, which results in lower-than-average rainfall, is what characterizes the El Niño phenomenon.

According to De Mesa, the drought was affecting 129,000 hectares of agricultural land. He claimed that the actual losses were still less than what was predicted when El Niño first emerged. 

"The preparation of the department has been effective in collaboration with other sectors, especially the local government and the National Irrigation Administration," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian advised community leaders and local government units (LGUs) to be on alert for fire incidents caused by the El Niño phenomenon. “We need to equip our people to be more vigilant so they can effectively protect their communities from fire incidents and prevent property loss and damage. The LGUs play a critical role in this campaign,” he said.

He stressed that there is no time for complacency, particularly in light of the public warning from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) about the risk of much hotter weather this month.

Fewer areas are expected to report losses as El Niño continues to weaken. The DA had earlier said it is preparing for a “more destructive” La Niña. The state weather bureau said La Niña has a 60 percent chance of developing from June to August.

Source: Philippine News Agency

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