ILOILO City – Western Visayas is among the regions already sustaining agricultural losses from El Niño, which is forecast to further intensify and possibly reach a “very strong” state toward the end of 2026.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), in its first bulletin on the effects of El Niño released at noon on Sept. 26, reported damage to crops and livestock in Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.
The four Visayas regions were among 14 regions nationwide where DA regional field offices have so far documented the effects of the prolonged dry conditions.
Across the country, El Niño has caused an estimated P6.87 billion in agricultural damage and losses, affecting 223,214 farmers and 249,028 hectares of agricultural land.
The DA placed the volume of production losses at 163,812 metric tons (MT).
The figures, however, remain subject to validation as assessments continue.
The department did not provide a separate monetary estimate for Western Visayas, making it unclear how much of the nationwide losses were incurred by farmers in the region.
Available DA data nevertheless showed that Western Visayas was among the areas reporting damage to both rice and corn.
Negros Occidental, which is now under the Negros Island Region, was also among the provinces affected by corn losses.
Corn bore the brunt of the agricultural damage nationwide, accounting for 71.38 percent of the total value of losses.
The crop sustained P4.90 billion in damage, with 170,605 hectares affected and production losses reaching 126,883 MT.
Of the affected corn areas, 130,208 hectares were partially damaged while 40,398 hectares were considered totally damaged.
Rice accounted for 22.29 percent of the nationwide losses, equivalent to P1.53 billion.
Some 74,953 hectares of rice farms were affected, resulting in production losses of 25,196 MT. Of the affected area, 60,150 hectares were partially damaged and 14,803 hectares were totally damaged.
High-value crops suffered another P396.93 million in losses. About 3,397 hectares were affected, with production losses estimated at 11,720 MT.
These crops included lowland and upland vegetables, spices, legumes, watermelon, banana and pineapple.
Cassava losses reached P406,040, affecting 73 hectares and resulting in 13 MT in lost production.
Livestock and poultry accounted for about 0.54 percent of the total value of agricultural losses.
Of the 249,028 hectares of agricultural land affected nationwide, the DA said 192,766 hectares, or 77.41 percent, still had a chance of recovery.
The remaining 56,262 hectares, or 22.59 percent, were considered beyond recovery.
Despite the magnitude of the damage, the DA said the 25,196 MT of rice production lost so far represented about 0.12 percent of the country’s target rice production of 20.29 million MT for 2026.
Corn losses were equivalent to about 1.44 percent of the country’s 8.80-million-MT production target.
Water pumps for Western Visayas
Western Visayas is also among the regions where the government has installed water pumps to help farmers cope with reduced water availability.
The DA said 338 water pumps were installed across Regions II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI and IX.
It did not indicate how many of the pumps were allocated specifically to Western Visayas.
Nationwide, the department said P10.96 billion worth of interventions had been provided to farmers affected by El Niño.
The bulk, or P10.53 billion, consisted of production assistance distributed through DA regional field offices, including seeds, fertilizers, soil conditioners and other agricultural inputs.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. also provided P427.07 million in indemnification to 42,383 affected farmers.
The DA distributed 23,459 native chickens to 78 farmers’ groups and 246 individual farmers under its native animal development and distribution programs.
Cloud-seeding operations were also conducted in collaboration with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and Philippine Air Force in agricultural and watershed areas in Cagayan Valley, including the Magat Dam area.
Stronger El Niño ahead
The DA bulletin cited the latest climate assessment presented by PAGASA during the 200th Climate Outlook Forum on Sept. 23.
Atmospheric and oceanic indicators showed that a strong El Niño was already present in the tropical Pacific.
Most climate models project the phenomenon to persist through the first half of 2027 and potentially develop into a very strong El Niño by the end of 2026.
The DA said it was closely monitoring weather and actual conditions in agricultural communities while coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration on planting and harvesting activities and the status of irrigation systems.
Regional offices are also identifying vulnerable areas and determining appropriate interventions.
Farmers are being provided with agrometeorological information as well as guidance on crop management and drought-resistant varieties.
The department is also participating in Kadiwa activities to help make food, particularly fish and fishery products, available and affordable to communities affected by El Niño.
The DA said its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center would continue consolidating field reports and releasing updates as the effects of El Niño develop./PN
