The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Bicol Region has reported a total of P386,636,641.15 in damage to agriculture across four provinces due to the extreme heat.

Masbate logged the biggest amount at P191,100,604.59, mainly affecting rainfed areas or those without irrigation systems. 

Other provinces affected are Albay with P83,815,420.65, Camarines Sur with P80,905,215.92; and Sorsogon with P30,815,400. 

Camarines Norte and Catanduanes did not report any damage.

FARMERS

Due to the prolonged dry weather, many farmers are unable to plant their crops.

Farmers like Josie Ynot from Barangay San Vicente, Cawayan, Masbate, are forced to feed their crops to their livestock because their farmland continues to dry up, and the soil is starting to crack.

“Wala gid na ako nag-ani. Kay abutan man sa init. Kapag walay ulan, wala dito naanihan,” Ynot said.

Cawayan is the major rice producer of the province, and relies  on rainfall heavily and lacks proper irrigation systems. 

“Ang laki ng area ng rice field area namin dito. Pero so far, walang dumating na irrigation. Meron nang proposal, before pa. ilang taon na. Until now, hindi pa dumating,” Mayor Edgar Condor, said.

The local government appealed to the national government for assistance in providing water irrigation systems to mitigate the damage and sustain the livelihoods of residents.

“Nasa vegetative at productive stage na ‘yung palay ng aming magsasaka, subalit ito ay na-damage ng El Niño. Nag-report agad kami sa taga-DA para kung ano man ‘yung intervention na meron si DA is makaka-avail kami,” Christian Balahadia, Municipal Agriculturist of Cawayan, said.

SUPPLY UNAFFECTED

Despite the challenges, the Bicol Region's overall agricultural supply remains unaffected largely, according to DA Bicol.

“Although 9,000 farmers na ‘yung affected dito, hindi pa naman masasabi na maapektohan ang supply natin dahil small portion lang po ito ng ating inaasahan na magiging ani. Dahil ‘yung inaasahan na magiging ani ay 600,000 metric tons,” Lovella Guarin, Information Officer of DA Bicol, said.

As of this writing, 421 rice and corn farmers have received P3 million in insurance indemnification from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.

The agency continues to validate damage reports in various locations across the region.