Drought damage in NegOcc tops P302 million

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The intense heat brought about by the El Niño phenomenon has inflicted P302,224,913 in damages across the rice, corn, and aquaculture sectors in Negros Occidental.

This information is detailed in an updated drought damage report submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson by OIC-Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola, a copy of which was furnished to reporters on Friday.

The report specifies that rice suffered the most, with total damages amounting to P191,747,976. Corn damages totaled P7,809,894, while the fisheries sector incurred losses of P2,667,042.

A total of 216 barangays have been affected, with 8,550 farmers impacted and 6,043 hectares hit by the drought.

Kabankalan City experienced the highest rice damages, estimated at P99,624,816, followed by Cauyan town with P66,139,780. Other severely affected areas include San Enrique with P16,852,861 in damages, Escalante City with P15,615,641, Himamaylan City with P13,499,975, and Candoni with P10,300,773.

For corn, Calatrava town reported the highest damages at P3,877,704. In the fisheries sector, San Enrique town recorded the most substantial losses with P2,472,042 for bangus and P21,000 for tilapia.