CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PNA) — At least 14,000 hectares of agricultural farms were already severely affected by the continuing dry spell in various agricultural provinces in Northern Mindanao.

The most affected by the dry spell are the agricultural-rich provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental and part of Lanao del Norte and Camiguin.

Latest report stated that millions of pesos of agricultural crops were already reported damaged due to severe dry spell in those areas.

Concerned government agencies are currently assessing and evaluating the exact amount of damage brought about by dry spell.

As this developed, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Northern Mindanao (Region 10) has reactivated the Regional Task Force (TF) on the El Niño phenomenon to alleviate the worsening situation.

The reactivation of the task force aims to enhance inter-agency coordination in the formulation and implementation of measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the said phenomenon on the people.

It is also meant to prepare the region of the onslaught of the abnormal dry season that is expected to cause billions of pesos in agricultural losses, particularly rice and corn production, which may affect the availability and distribution of food in the country, said Region 10 regional executive director Lealyn A. Ramos.

Ramos, who is also the TF chairperson, said the phenomenon also have a great impact on the people's lives, environment, health and socio-economic conditions, livelihood opportunities and essential services, damage to property and national infrastructure, aside from disruption of production.

Members of the TF include all the regional directors of the following departments: Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Science and Technology (DOST), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Trade and Industry (DTI) and Health (DOH), Education (DepEd), Energy (DOE);
Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) and the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFC).

In a related development, cloud seeding operations to induce the occurrence of rain has begun.

The cloud seeding operations are spearheaded by the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 900th Air Weather Group.

However, the priority areas are those near the river basins of Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur and the Pulangi River in Bukidnon because of the need to bring to the required levels the water that drive the turbines of the hydro-electric plants in the area.

Both bodies of water have reached critical levels because of the recent dry spell due to the El Niño affecting the supply of electricity that resulted in the rotating brownouts at various parts in Mindanao.