A farmer in Cebu City is giving away 15,000 kilos of tomatoes after the El Nino phenomenon affected the size of the tomatoes.

Emelio Secretaria, who owns a farm in Barangay Sudlon Dos in Cebu City, said the tomatoes that grew are too small and do not pass buyers' standards. The tomatoes, he said, are now like cherry tomatoes, but remain edible. 

"Wala nami tubig ika-bisbis mao dili na kaayo ma-market (We don’t have water to pour anymore, that’s why we cannot market it),” Secretaria said in a message to ABS-CBN News.

Cebu City Councilor Jun Alcover, chairman for the committee on agriculture, said the tomatoes were supposed to be for export but could not grow due to the heat.

Secretaria has asked nearby residents and Alcover for help in disposing of the crop. He said he is losing over P300,000 as a result of the failed crop. 

The farmer said he is not selling the tomatoes since he will be losing more by hiring additional people to harvest and sell it.

The farm is open to those who want to come and pick the tomatoes themselves.

Alcover also took a few hundred kilos for distribution in Cebu City Hall.

The City Agriculture Department has been working double time to aid more than 700 farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon

State weather bureau PAGASA said Cebu’s heat index will continue to range from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius in the coming days.