Weeks of flooding in Mangaldan, Pangasinan have left rice stalks turning yellow and farmlands submerged, forcing many farmers to abandon their crops.

Farmers in Barangay Banaoang said they had little choice but to wait for the water to recede.

“Medyo mahirapan na kami, babawi na lang talaga sa next cycle ng pagtatanim, lugi na,” Juanito Español, president of the Alitaya-Gueguesangen-Amansabina Irrigators Association, said.

Some rice fields were washed out completely, leaving only patches of crops behind. The Mangaldan Municipal Agriculture Office said the floods were caused by recent storms worsened by the southwest monsoon.

“Ang palay talaga kailangan niya ang tubig, pero kung sobra rin naman ang tubig magiging cause din ng mababang ani, lalo na kung sobra doon sa level na kailangan ng tubig,” municipal agriculture spokesperson Manuel Aquino said.

Farmers have started filing indemnity claims with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), which is now conducting widespread validation of the affected rice lands.

Officials said rice plants not fully submerged may still recover, but for many, the damage has already been done.