• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has forecasted that Negros Occidental will experience drought from February to May this year brought about by El Nino phenomenon.
Drought is defined by PAGASA as three consecutive months of way below normal rainfall condition, or 60 percent reduction from average rainfall.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported that damage due to dry spell further increased to P12.8 million.
This has affected 346 hectares of rice crops planted by 373 farmers in 36 barangays in the cities of Himamaylan and Sipalay as well as in the municipalities of Isabela, Cauayan, Binalbagan, Hinoba-an and Moises Padilla.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said that he directed Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II to source funds to assist rice farmers affected by the dry spell.
Lacson said that he will sit down with the personnel of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to establish parameters and guidelines on who are qualified to receive assistance from the provincial government.
The affected rice fields were reported as either in vegetative stage or ready for harvest.
PAGASA predicted that El Niño will likely persist until the second quarter of 2024. | GB
