NegOcc to allocate P15M for El Niño

BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has allocated P15 million for its El Niño mitigation plans.

On July 4, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared the onset of El Niño, a weather phenomenon wherein the ocean’s surface temperature becomes warm, resulting in less rainfall.

According to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, instead of digging wells, they will use runoff or surface water to continue irrigating crops.

They will also utilize new technologies to maximize the province’s water resource, he said.

The governor further stated that the provincial government will focus on land areas that are already irrigated.

For areas that are not irrigated, the provincial government will opt for digging of wells.

Lacson also appealed to Negrenses to minimize water wastage.

The P15-million El Niño budget was earlier proposed by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist but it was initially put on hold as the provincial government asked for a more detailed plan for its use.

Local government units in Western Visayas were earlier told by the Department of Agriculture to form their respective El Niño taskforces early to help mitigate calamities related to the dry conditions./PN