By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said farmers who have been affected by the dry spell will each receive P2,500 cash assistance from the provincial government.

Lacson acknowledges that the assistance would not be enough, as he hopes that it could still help the affected farmers.

He also ordered local government units to assist in clearing irrigation canals and waterways that had been clogged with debris and garbage.

He urged local farmers to maximize water use during El Niño.

Lacson said it is unfortunate that Negros Occidental will have to experience drought caused by the weather phenomenon until May of this year.

As part of efforts to mitigate its effects, Lacson said they are considering conducting cloud seeding operations.

He noted that it will not be a 100 percent solution as cloud seeding depends on clouds and wind direction in target areas.

Some of the El Niño-affected areas in Negros Occidental are dependent on rain.

Lacson met with Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) head Dr. Dina Gensola to get the list of affected farmers.

“Most of the farmers are not insured because they were already informed of the dry spell brought about by El Niño,” Lacson added.

On Tuesday, February 6, OPA reported that the damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon in the province has so far reached P12.8 million.

The number of affected localities has also risen to seven, covering 346 hectares of rice fields and 373 farmers across 36 villages.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Negros Occidental, including its capital Bacolod City, will continue to experience drought conditions until May this year.

Three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions will be considered drought, Pagasa said./DGB, WDJ