Dry season hits Davao del Sur, Mindoro Occidental worst —NIA

The provinces of Davao del Sur and Mindoro Occidental are the hardest-hit places during this year's prolonged dry season due to the El Niño phenomenon, the National Irrigation Administration said Thursday.

Pilipina Bermudez, Department Manager A of the NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff, said that the damage was confined to two provinces since farmers already harvested their crops by February to April or when the drought hits.

“Hindi masyadong naramdaman ang tagtuyot kasi naani na ng rice farmers ang mga tanim nila. Sa nasasakupan ng NIA, walang gaanong problema. Ang worst hit ay yung Davao del Sur na inabot ng 3,800 hectares ang naapektuhan ng tagtuyot saka 'yung Mindoro Occidental na umabot ng 8,000 hectares,” Bermudez said in an interview with News To Go.

The NIA covers 1.6 million hectares of the 3.1 million potential irrigable area in the country.

“Doon po sa Davao del Sur, December pa lang [noong isang taon], wala ng ulan. In contrast, doon sa Davao del Norte at Compostela Valley, ang naging problema, binaha ang mga pananim nila. Exteme 'yung weather conditions sa Mindanao,” Bermudez added.

Bermudez said that NIA sent 25 units of shallow tube well in Davao del Sur to aid the farmers there.

As for Mindoro Occidental, Bermudez said that the water distribution in the affected farm lands will be on a rotational basis to maximize the supply and hopefully save some of the crops.

Likewise, Bermudez called on the farmers to plant crops which do not require a lot of water by November and December this year to avoid losses caused by the drought. — MDM, GMA News