The drought damage to rice, corn and fisheries in Negros Occidental increased to P302,224,913.33 on Wednesday, May 8.
OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola in a report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson placed the damage to rice crops at P291,747,976.57, corn – P7,809,894.76 and fisheries – P2,667,042.
San Carlos City, Kabankalan City and San Enrique in Negros Occidental have declared states of calamity because of the drought damage to their farmlands.
Genzola said the drought has hit 5,864 hectares of rice lands in 216 barangays in 28 of 31 LGUs in Negros Occidental, and has affected 8,285 farmers.
The drought has also damaged 178.91 hectares of corn land in 40 barangays in 12 local government units in Negros Occidental, affecting 265 farmers, she added.
Damage to bangus in fishponds in Sipalay City and San Enrique was also reported.
Also badly hit by the drought are sugarcane fields in the upland areas of Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, Cauayan, Sipalay City and Candoni in Negros Occidental, and Mabinay and Basay in Negros Oriental, sugar planter Bomber Zayco said.
The Sugar Regulatory Administration has yet to release a report on the extent of the drought damage to sugarcane.*