Damage due to drought in Negros hit P60.6 million

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The dry spell in Negros Occidental has resulted in damage to agriculture amounting to P60.6 million, according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).

Murcia and Binalbagan towns were the hardest hit, with rice production losses pegged at P8.29 million and P7.13 million, respectively.

Damage to agriculture in 13 towns, which affected 1,268 hectares of rice fields and 1,380 farmers, was initially placed at P46.77 million.

Pest infestations also destroyed rice fields in Pontevedra and Cauayan, and affected 1,658 farmers.

The OPA report said Pontevedra reported losses amounting to P10.77 million due to rat and black bug infestation. Cauayan rice fields were affected by bacterial leaf blight. 

Western Visayas aside from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol, Central Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are hardest hit by the dry spell.

Damage to agriculture has reached more than P2 billion as of this month, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has reported.