At least 31 provinces are now grappling with the full impact of El Niño, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Of these, 19 are located in Luzon, including Metro Manila.
The affected provinces in Luzon encompass Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Rizal.
In the Visayas region, drought has impacted Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Samar.
Meanwhile, Lanao del Norte stands as the sole drought-affected province in Mindanao.
Drought conditions are defined by below-average rainfall, constituting a 21 to 60 percent reduction from the norm for five consecutive months or significantly reduced rainfall for three consecutive months.
Furthermore, dry spell conditions have affected Batangas, Laguna, and Masbate, while Capiz, Siquijor, and Southern Leyte in the Visayas, and Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay in Mindanao, have experienced dry spell conditions.
Across the nation, 15 provinces, comprising nine in Luzon, two in the Visayas, and four in Mindanao, have encountered dry conditions.
Dry spell denotes below-average rainfall for three consecutive months, whereas dry conditions signify below-average rainfall for two months.
PAGASA warns that El Niño may persist until May, exacerbating agricultural damage.
In Cagayan Valley alone, agriculture losses due to El Niño have surpassed P560 million, primarily impacting cornfields, rice crops, and high-value crops.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has collaborated with affected local government units to facilitate financial assistance for affected farmers.
In Negros Occidental, the municipality of San Enrique has declared a state of calamity due to El Niño-induced damage, with losses estimated at P9.9 million affecting 600 farmers and 6,000 households.
San Enrique, known for its rice production, grapples with the economic repercussions of the agricultural downturn.
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