La Niña preparations underway

CEBU, Philippines - Two weeks from the forecasted onset of the rainy season, the city agriculture office begins its preparation including preparations for the possible onslaught of La Niña.

Joelito Baclayon, Cebu City Agriculturist, said they had started warning farmers here to regulate their planting.

“Kay kung magtanom sila og daghan, unya niingon ra ba ang Pag-asa (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) nga naa’y La Niña, mas mudako ang damage sa ilang crops,” Baclayon said.

The agricultural damage in the city as of last month was pegged at P75 million. But Baclayon said that when they did their recent assessment and validation, the total damage already exceeded P75 million as of yesterday.

He was not able to provide the exact figures however because computations are still ongoing. He just said that on vegetables alone, the damage is P21 million. The city agriculture is also assessing the damage caused by El Niño in the livestock, fruit crops, rice, corn and cutflowers.

Baclayon said he also advised the farmers to clean out the drainage lines of their farms in preparation for the rainy season.

Today, they are set to meet with the Department of Agriculture to discuss plans and measures for the possible occurrence of La Niña.

As early as now, farmers are advised to plan their planting system in a way it can easily cope with sudden weather changes.

They are also advised to start identifying agricultural commodities that are not easily damaged by continuous rains since La Niña is set to bring long rainy months. — THE FREEMAN