• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The ongoing drought created further havoc on rice and corn crops in Negros Occidental, with the damage placed by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist at P184,764.120.11, as of April 16.
Also affected are 4,574 farmers, tilling 3,288.54 hectares of rice and corn lands in 178 barangays of 25 local government units of the province, OPA report further indicated.
OPA officer in charge Dina Genzola, in her report to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, disclosed that the town of Cauayan was the hardest hit LGU with damage valued at P67.8 million, affecting 1,128 farmers, who are tilling 579.57 hectares of rice and corn lands.
Genzola also reported that rice crops incurred P180,026,310.23 in damage, and P4,737,809.89 for corn.
Other affected LGUs include San Carlos City, Don Salvador Benedicto, Sagay City, Murcia, Talisay City, E.B. Magalona, Silay City, Valladolid, San Enrique, Bago City, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, Himamaylan City, Isabela, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Hinobaan, Sipalay City, Kabankalan City, and Candoni.*
