VIGAN CITY — The Department of Agriculture reported that the scattered rain showers experienced last week in different parts of the country were not enough to save crops damaged by the prevailing dry spell or El Niño.

Acting Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla said the rains would not help recover crops destroyed by El Niño, but added that they helped increase water levels in watershed areas and dams with critical levels of water.

Fondevilla assured assistance to all El Niño affected farmers all over the country as the Arroyo administration through the DA had already started the distribution of water pumps and shallow tube wells.

He said the crops that were greatly affected by the onslaught of the dry spell in the country were palay and corn.

Eduardo Quiteves of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration branch in Sinait, Ilocos Sur said the scattered rain showers in the province were caused by a cold front.

Secretary Estrella Alabastro of the Department of Science and Technology for her part said the El Niño phenomenon being experienced by the country right now is moderate compared to the 1997 episode. She said the current El Niño kicked in during the last quarter of 2009 and will end in mid-June this year.

Records from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) showed that the total estimated value of damage to crops by El Niño had reached more than P8 billion with an estimated cropland affected at 693,732 hectares. At least 158,768 farming families were likewise affected.

Among the regions affected by the drought are the Ilocos Region; Central and Southern Luzon; Cagayan Valley; Regions 9, 10 and 11; Cordillera Autonomous Region; Central and Western Visayas; and some parts in Mindanao.