NATION

Drought affects 6,752 hectares of farmland in 8 Iloilo towns

Fraye Cedrick Anona · Oct 13, 2026, 8:34 PM

Dry Spell Takes Its Toll. Drought conditions are being experienced in an Iloilo town, raising concerns over the impact on local agriculture and water resources. — Iloilo Agriculture Office

ILOILO CITY — Drought has affected 6,752.15 hectares of agricultural land in eight municipalities in Iloilo, causing an estimated P232.54 million in damage and affecting 9,472 farmers, according to the latest provincial assessment as of 12 October 2026.

The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) discussed the situation during a meeting that also covered preparations for El Niño and updates on the ongoing Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation.

The drought has affected rice, corn, and high-value commercial crops in Lambunao, San Enrique, Dueñas, Banate, Janiuay, Bingawan, Lemery, and Concepcion.

To mitigate the impact, the council discussed irrigation support to sustain water supplies and protect standing crops, the use of solar-powered pumps to provide more reliable and cost-effective irrigation, and cloud seeding to help augment rainfall.

The meeting also tackled developments and concerns related to the RSSI infestation as the provincial government continues efforts to address agricultural losses and strengthen disaster preparedness.