Drought hits nearly 3,800 hectares of Iloilo rice farms

ILOILO CITY — Drought has affected 3,792.93 hectares of rice areas across seven Iloilo municipalities, with the estimated value of affected crops reaching PHP 124.26 million, according to a provincial situation report.

Drought is a prolonged period of unusually low rainfall that causes a shortage of water and can hurt agricultural production and the livelihood of farmers.

The affected areas are in Lambunao, San Enrique, Dueñas, Banate, Janiuay, Bingawan, and Lemery.

The report put the value of affected rice at PHP 124,257,014.90 and the number of affected farmers at 5,956.

Among the affected municipalities, Dueñas was the first to declare a state of calamity due to the dry spell, after about 190 hectares of farmland were reported affected.

In a radio interview, acting Provincial Agriculturist Geron Magbanua said the declaration was prompted by nearly three months of insufficient rainfall.

He said even the rain that did fall was too little to supply enough water to agricultural lands.

Magbanua said the provincial agriculture office had prepared assistance for farmers ahead of the expected strong El Niño.

As the dry conditions persist, the provincial government is stepping up preparations.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is coordinating preparations under the Provincial El Niño Task Force.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. created the task force through Executive Order No. 67, Series of 2026.

PDRRMO chief Cornelio Salinas said the province was prepared to tap its Quick Response Fund (QRF) of PHP 82 million if conditions worsen and a state of calamity is declared.

Salinas clarified that the QRF is not reserved exclusively for El Niño response.

Under Republic Act No. 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, local governments maintain a quick response fund that serves as a standby allocation for relief and recovery operations.

He said the provincial government would also coordinate with national government agencies for additional assistance if provincial resources prove insufficient.

The task force is focusing on five key sectors: food security, water security, energy security, health security, and public safety.

The food security sector is preparing measures to reduce crop losses and protect the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk.

Salinas said the provincial government would continue monitoring conditions before considering a provincewide state of calamity, noting that the level of impact varies across sectors and communities.

He urged the public to conserve water, follow health and safety advisories, and take precautions during periods of extreme heat.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said El Niño is expected to strengthen by the end of 2026 and continue into the first half of 2027.

Western Visayas is expected to receive below-normal rainfall in October and November, with much drier conditions forecast from December through March.

El Niño is a climate pattern marked by above-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. In the Philippines, it typically brings below-normal rainfall that can lead to dry spells and drought.

Officials said El Niño does not mean there will be no rain, but it can bring longer and more frequent dry periods that could strain available water supplies.

Iloilo faced similar conditions in 2024, when water shortages hit 444 barangays in 16 municipalities and affected 265,901 residents, according to previous Daily Guardian reports.

The provincial board declared the province under a state of calamity on May 14, 2024, and approved a PHP 61 million quick response fund, with an additional PHP 15 million for emergency response.

Agricultural damage from the 2024 El Niño reached PHP 1.025 billion as of April 26, 2024, affecting 23,699 farmers.