Farmers in the town of Santa Barbara in Iloilo have started plowing their rice fields and preparing for a new cropping season as rain starts to fall in the area.

On June 1, 2026, PAGASA in Western Visayas recorded 8.8mm of rainfall in the area.

Joel Joaquin, a farmer, said the rain has helped the irrigation system and gave them reason to start preparing their fields.

“Noong nakaraang taon, mga buwan ng Mayo, may naka-direct na. Ngayong June, hindi pa, delayed talaga ang ulan,” he said.

Another farmer, Alex Alemane, hopes more rain will fall on his two rice fields.

“Parang hindi sapat ang ulan. Sana madagdagan pa. Ngunit kung gusto namin, may tubig na ang irigasyon,” he said.

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA)-6, several local farmers have started the first cropping but many of them got delayed because of insufficient water supply.

“Kasi dahil late ang ating rainfall, late rin ang planting. Ngunit nagpapasalamat tayo kasi umulan na. Pero ang ibang provinces, as early as May nakapagtanim naman sila kasi nag-early doon ang pag-ulan,” said Maria Teresa Solis, Regional Technical Director of DA-6.

According to PAGASA, rain may be expected in the afternoon, evening, and at dawn because of the habagat, which is favorable to farmers.

“Ang onset ng habagat season makakatulong ito particularly sa pagdala ng rainfall amount or pag-ulan dito sa Western Visayas. Magkakaroon ng tubig ang ating pananim, at the same time, ang temperatura, mababawasan ang init na ating mararanasan,” said Rolly Cuenca, Weather Observer at PAGASA Iloilo.

The farmers are expected to have their first harvest by September 2026.