As the El Niño phenomenon worsens in Negros Oriental, damage to rice, corn and other high-value crops has reached more than P80.4 million, the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO) said.

Alejandro Rafal, provincial head of DA-PATCO, told the Philippine News Agency that as of Tuesday, March 26, nine local government units (LGUs) have submitted their reports on damage and losses — Mabinay, Zamboanguita, Vallehermoso, Manjuyod, and the cities of Bayawan, Bais, Dumaguete, Tanjay, and Canlaon.

The number of farmers and fisherfolk affected was placed at 3,048 while the areas affected totaled 1,650 hectares.

Damaged were over 672 hectares of farmland with no chance of recovery, while more than 1,282 hectares were partially damaged, a report from the DA-PATCO showed.

Aside from rice, corn and high-value crops such as certain fruits and vegetables, some livestock and poultry as well as fisheries were also affected by the El Niño, Rafal said.

According to him, the cost of total losses as of the latest reporting would be higher than P80.4 million, but three of the nine LGUs affected have yet to submit their individual reports on production losses in terms of value. These are Vallehermoso, Manjuyod and Canlaon City.

On April 2, after the Holy Week break, the DA and the LGUs will begin a joint validation of the reported production losses to determine the type of interventions and assistance needed, Rafal said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Dumaguete said the drought in Negros Oriental is expected to continue until May.

Pagasa local chief, engineer Dan Caber, said while the El Niño occurrence in Negros Oriental was reported early this year, the dry spell in the first weeks had transitioned to drought by early March.

Caber said the onset of the summer months will aggravate the already hot weather in the province. (PNA)