By JEN BAYLON

The agricultural damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon in Negros Occidental has reached a staggering P318 million, the latest data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed yesterday.

The damage to rice crops was at P298,474,128.14, affecting 8,431 farmers tilling 6,015 hectares of land in 28 local government units (LGUs), the OPA said.

Corn damage was at 8,346,482.26, affecting 280 farmers tilling 189.29 hectares of land in 12 LGUs, the report added.

Fisheries suffered damage at P3,556,022, affecting 34 fisherfolk in six LGUs.

Kabankalan City is the hardest-hit locality.

Other local government units that have been severely affected by the El Niño-induced drought include the cities of Escalante, Himamaylan, Bago, and San Carlos City, as well as the municipalities of Cauayan, San Enrique, Candoni, Valladolid, Ilog, Calatrava, and Hinoba-an.

Kabankalan, San Enrique, San Carlos, and Valladolid were placed under a state of calamity due to agricultural damage triggered by El Niño, which allows the LGUs to access emergency funds and quick response funds to augment local funds for rehabilitation efforts./JB, WDJ