BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 10 (PNA) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) Cordillera Regional Office is designing plans that will suit the needs of the farmers and other agricultural stakeholders to combat the effects of the El Niño phenomenon which is expected to affect the region next year.
DA-Cordillera Information Officer Robert Domoguen on Tuesday, November 10, said the effects of the El Niño phenomenon will be felt in the Cordillera Region in the first quarter of 2016.
Domoguen said most areas in the region still experience afternoon rains which contribute largely to the swelling of spring water used as irrigation in most provinces.
The department has not recorded any incidence of damaged crops due to drought, Domoguen added.
Domoguen observed that in the Province of Kalinga which is often hit by drought, harvest is abundant, making the area still the top producer of quality rice in the Cordillera.
The Provinces of Ifugao and Mountain Province still have large quantity of hybrid corn production and rice, Domoguen said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Cordillera Office confirmed that the region is experiencing afternoon rains regularly.
Citing PAGASA’s report, Domoguen said, “we have good cloud formation in the region despite the El Niño and that is why we do not feel the effect of the phenomenon.
Our high elevation is also an advantage which makes our temperature better aside from the rains that we are having.”
Domoguen said the department is closely coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and other partner agencies for mitigating measures in anticipation of the El Niño effects. (PNA)