Mayor Benjie Miranda is waiting for the recommendation of the City Agriculture Office to determine how Kabankalan farmers hit by the El Niño drought can be assisted.
Considering a declaration of a state of calamity will depend on the assessment submitted to him, he also said on Thursday, February 29.
The El Niño damage to rice and corn crops in Negros Occidental increased to P55,412, 924, with Kabankalan City being the hardest hit, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) reported Wednesday, February 28.
Damage to rice crops in 13 Kabankalan City barangays has hit P22,834,450.80, the OPA said on Wednesday.
It has affected 431 hectares and 504 farmers, the OPA added.
Miranda said most of the affected areas are rainfed.*