Farmer Fernando Santos laments the damaged crops in his dry rice fields in San Miguel, Bulacan, on February 26, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — The number of Philippine provinces suffering from the effects of El Niño has climbed to 51, an official said on Wednesday.

Despite sufficient resources, LGUs urged to expect 'dire' El Niño effects

As of February 25, 51 provinces are affected by El Niño as droughts and dry spells have also creeped into the Ilocos and Mimaropa regions, said Joey Villarama, spokesperson of the government’s El Niño Task Force 

“Kahit po nakikita natin yung devastation, maliit na bahagi ito,” he said, noting that only 6,600 of the 275,000 hectares of farm land in the country has been affected.

“Hindi po natin dini-discount yung fact na maaapektuhan nito yung ani… [but] we would like to assure the public na sapat ang supply ng ating bigas at pagkain,” he said.

Villarama assured the public that the government has adequate aid mechanisms to address the ill effects of El Niño.

“Ia-assess ng Department of Agriculture regional office kung puwede pang tamnan yung kanilang sakahan ng drought tolerant o drought resistant [variants],” he said.

DA urges El Niño-hit towns in Mindoro to declare state of calamity

“Kung hindi na puwedeng tamnan na yung lupa dahil sobrang tigang na… puwede pong bigyan ng mga domestic animals like itik, manok at kambing ang mga magsasaka,” he said.

Bulalacao inilagay sa state of calamity dahil sa El Niño

While the government has been distributing fuel subsidies and other aid to affected farmers, Villarama urged the public to do their part by conserving water and other resources as the number of affected provinces is expected to peak at 80 in the coming months.

“Hindi po natin mapre-predict kung gaano kababa ang ibababa ng dam levels kaya hinihikayat natin ang ating mga kababayan na mag-conserve,” the spokesperson said.

“Nananawagan po kami na habang sapat pa ang supply ng ating tubig, kuryente at pakain at magtulong-tulong tayo para hindi mabawasan o maubos ang ating limited resources,” he said.

“Mahaba pa po ang ating bubunuin. Ilang buwan pa po ang pananalasa ng El Niño kaya dapat po ay handa tayo,” he added.

So far, the Philippines has yet to flag an outbreak of El Niño-related diseases such as cholera and dengue.

But Villarama warned the public against heat strokes that could be common especially during the dry season. 

“Kung nakakaranas po tayo ng pananakit ng ulo… rashes o flushed skin, mabuting magkunsulta na tayo sa doktor,” he said.

“Kung wala tayong nararanasan na ganoong sintomas pero nararamdaman natin na umiinit na yung ating katawan, pinak mabuti lumilim tayo at magpunas-punas para maibsan yung init ng katawan,” he said.

“Ugaliin natin magdala ng lalagyan ng tubig para kahit nasaan tayo ay makainom tayo ng tubig,” he added.

The Philippines is expected to feel the effects of El Niño until mid-2024, state weather bureau PAGASA earlier said.