By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) ensures that they will protect and rehabilitate the province’s watershed areas to further enhance water security.

This is amid the extreme heat being experienced in the province brought by the El Niño phenomenon.

PENRO officer-in-charge Engineer Joan Gerangaya said through these efforts, they aim to maintain normal water levels at sources.

Gerangaya also said they are concerned about the situation in southern Negros Occidental, which is currently being devastated, as there are no protected areas that could enhance water security and sufficient rainfall.

He also confirmed that due to the extreme heat in the province, water levels are now decreasing.

PENRO is currently coordinating with local government units to prevent a further decline in water supply.

The Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) earlier revealed that the damage to agriculture due to El Niño has reached more than P77.5 million.

OPA said around 1,646 hectares of farmland and 1,963 farmers in 11 local government units have been affected.

Kabankalan City recorded the highest worth of agricultural damage at P41,726,761, followed by Cauayan town at P14,001,540./DGB, WDJ