The National Irrigation Administration on Saturday said it has prepositioned seedlings to over 200,000 farmland hectares in preparation for the possible drought impact of the El Niño phenomenon in the country next year.

Josephine Salazar, officer-in-charge of NIA-Engineering and Operations, said the move is part of the agency's immediate measures to help farm industries cope with the negative impact of the dry season.

Salazar said the NIA has positioned these seedlings within the identified farmlands "that have high-value crops."

"So we are promoting po na iyong tail-end portion of the irrigation system of… iyong magkakaroon tayo ng problema on these identified areas na high-value crops ang itanim," she said.

The NIA, she added has already coordinated with the Department of Agriculture for the preparation and positioning of seeds for high-value crops

"For the overall direction of NIA this 2024, we are also preparing for the El Niño as well. Under our proposed budget for 2024, we already have immediate measures for that," she said.

NIA said some 257,600 hectares nationwide were identified as vulnerable areas to the El Niño phenomenon.

Of the figure, 27,000 hectares were identified in Soccsksargen; 13,000 hectares in Zamboanga Peninsula; 14,000 hectares in Central Visayas; 15,000 hectares in Western Visayas; 17,000 hectares in Mimaropa; 85,000 hectares in Central Luzon; and 24,000 hectares in Ilocos Region.