El Niño in Central Visayas Still Manageable: DA

The regional agriculture office said Tuesday the situation in Central Visayas remains manageable even after Cebu province declared a state of calamity as a result of the mild El Nino.

Joel Elumba, Department of Agriculture (DA) regional technical director for research, said they are still in the process of validating damage reports from various field offices.

But based on initial data, the effects and damages caused by El Niño in Central Visayas remains manageable, he said during the Association of Government Information Officers – Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA) forum.

Among the reported areas with damages to crops like rice and corn in Cebu province are the towns of Asturias with 267 hectares, Balamban with 2.3 hectares, and the City of Naga with 50 hectares.

In the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor, 100 and 20 hectares have been reportedly damaged respectively. They have not yet received reports of damages or affected crops by El Niño in the province of Bohol, Elumba said.

He said they have allocated PHP35 million to mitigate the effects and damage caused by the dry spell, of which PHP2.5 million is set aside for cloud seeding.

Elumba advised affected farmers to visit the nearest agriculture office in their respective cities or municipalities for assistance regarding irrigation problems.

The Cebu Provincial Board, in mass motion, approved Monday a resolution declaring a state of calamity for the entire province due to the ill effects of the mild El Niño. (PNA)