• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The drought brought about by El Niño phenomenon continues to wreak havoc on rice and corn crops in Negros Occidental, where as of April 12, the value of the damage has been pegged by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) at P173.5 million.
The number of affected farmers also further increased to 4,266, who are tilling 3,116.24 hectares of rice land in 148 barangays of 24 local government units.
The OPA report further indicated damage to rice crops reached P168,838,595.73 while damage to corn was at P4,737,809.89.
Kabankalan City remains the most affected area, with crop damage valued at P41,910,361,20.
Despite the rising numbers of affected farmers, the provincial government of Negros Occidental is “not considering a declaration of a state of calamity at this moment,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson had earlier said.*
