The Department of Agriculture (DA) should anticipate more areas in the country to be declared under a state of calamity due to drought and ready its Quick Response Fund (QRF) under this year’s calamity funds so that it can be immediately tapped and released to aid drought-hit farmers, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said.

This, as the local government of San Enrique town in Negros Occidental declared the municipality under a state of calamity following weeks of rising temperatures, dry weather conditions, and lack of rainfall. 

The town’s mayor says 90 percent of the town’s rice fields have already dried up and farmers couldn’t start replanting due to the unfavorable weather conditions.

San Enrique is home to some 26,000 people and is one of the top rice-producing towns in Negros Occidental. A large chunk of the town’s 2,884.75-hectare land area are rice farms.

About 20 local government units (LGUs) have declared a state of calamity due to the impact of El Niño.

“Kailangang i-expect natin na sa darating na mga linggo ay madadagdagan pa ang mga lugar na magdedeklara ng state of calamity dahil sa matinding init at tagtuyot. Kaya dapat siguraduhin ng DA na ready for release at download sa kanilang regional offices ang QRF kapag nagdeklara na ng state of calamity ang mga LGU para naman mabigyan ng agarang ayuda ang mga apektadong magsasaka sa mga lugar na ‘yon,” Lee said.

The Bicolano lawmaker also asked the DA and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to coordinate for possible cloud-seeding operations over major farm areas in the country to cushion the detrimental effects of the El Niño.

The on-going dry spell is expected in the Philippines to persist until May.