By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay
PILI, Camarines Sur, Mar. 11 (PIA) – As the impending effect of El Niño looms over the country, this province has set its eyes on coming up with necessary preparations as safety nets to ensure that a huge number of farmers will not be affected, including the state of health of its constituents.
In an emergency meeting this morning, the Camarines Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) thru Governor Miguel Villafuerte convened all Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs), MDRRMOs, PDRRMC members composed of government agencies and offices, PAG-ASA and other stakeholders. The council wishes to get updates on the current state of each municipality in as far as the effect of the forecasted drought is concerned.
PAG ASA Weather forecaster and meteorologist Fred Consulta presented the climate review as prepared by the Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section (CLIMPS) and Climatology and Agrometerology Division, particularly citing the rising sea surface temperature (SST), as one of the signs of an upcoming hot season.
“Actually, the dry spell already started in Oct. 2018. TD Usman came in this Dec. and ushered volumes of rain that helped our upland farmers but devastated those in the lowland. The amount of Dec. rain covered the Oct to Nov amount of rainfall. But when January came in, until February, rain was already scarce,” Consulta said during his presentation.
Department of Agriculture Bicol Regional Office Field Operations Division Chief Dr. Mary Grace de Rodriguez said that 53, 799 total areas were already planted with crops as of Feb. 15; 22 percent of which or 11, 629 hectares are rainfed, located at upland areas and at the tail end of irrigated areas.
“These are newly planted and are in a vegetative stage and therefore considered as vulnerable areas once El Niño’s effect take its toll in Camarines Sur,” Rodriguez explained.
Agriculturists coming from various municipalities shared similar scenarios and concern, describing their farm lots in a state of dryness, showing off big cracks and exhibiting stunted growth.
Environment, Disaster Management, and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO) Chief Lucena Bermeo enjoined the MAOs to submit their respective collated reports as to the damage and current agricultural situations. Their reports will determine the next action of the provincial government, including the declaration of state of calamity, if necessary. (LSMacatangay-PIAV/Camarines Sur)