ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) is expecting up to a 50 percent drop in rice yield of standing crops this planting season in Iloilo. Provincial Agriculturist, Dr. Ildefonso Toledo said his office is now monitoring the effects of the prolonged dry season on corn, livestock and fish. Based on the OPA’s latest assessment, losses in rice crops have reached P600 million so far, that is, P530 million loss on crops and P70 million on fertilizers, seeds and labor.

 The OPA earlier estimated that losses would reach as much as P1 billion.

Fortunately, Toledo said many farmers have been able to salvage their crops.

He said most of the El Niño-affected areas depend on rain for water although “some of the farmers have small water impounding or have drilled and placed piping system for water.”

Toledo projected that this year's rice yield will be affected by 10 percent. This figure represents damage assessment covering 31 municipalities only in the province, he said.

“The effect is progressing, with some towns still in the process of submitting their reports,” underlined Toledo during an emergency meeting of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.

Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas called for the emergency meeting so that an update on the effects of the long dry spell could be made.

Tupas had earlier requested the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to declare Iloilo province under a state of calamity so that some P5 million from the province's calamity fund could be utilized in addressing the impact of El Niño, particularly by implementing various measures designed to cushion the adverse effects of the intense dry spell.

The SP referred the Iloilo governor’s request to the Committees on Agriculture and Legal matters, urging them to come up with immediate recommendations once they receive such request.