By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported that the damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon in the province has now reached P12.8 million.

Four local government units (LGUs) have been affected by El Niño, according to OPA data as of yesterday, which brings the total number to seven.

The affected LGUs are the towns of Isabela, Cauayan, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, and Hinoba-an, as well as the cities of Himamaylan and Sipalay.

Most of the affected areas are rain-fed rice fields or farmlands that rely on rainfall instead of irrigation.

The OPA also confirmed that 346 hectares of rice fields and 373 farmers across 36 villages are affected.

OPA continues to encourage farmers to enroll in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation and the provincial government’s crop insurance initiative.

Last month, at least 143 local farmers bore the brunt of the phenomenon, which affected a total of 117.22 hectares of rice fields in Negros Occidental.

Himamaylan has been hit the hardest, with eight barangays and 75 rice farmers affected.

The city’s rice lands, spanning 59.22 hectares, suffered damages amounting to more than P2.4 million.

Two villages were affected in Cauayan town, impacting two rice farmers and 52 hectares of crops, with damages estimated at P4,105,000.

Meanwhile, a village in Isabela town was also hit by the weather phenomenon, with the LGU reported that six hectares of rice land were damaged, with losses tallied at P560,250, and one farmer was affected.

Earlier, OPA officer-in-charge Dr. Dina Genzola emphasized that the affected rice fields are either in the vegetative or harvestable stage, with the parched land showing visible signs of distress, leading to the demise of the rice crops.

“Upon receiving the reports, we swiftly dispatched agricultural extension workers to verify and assess the extent of the damages,” Genzola said.

“We hope that there will be no additional affected areas in the future,” she added./DGB, WDJ