Some Mindanao provinces, towns under state of calamity due to drought

The lack of rain due to the El Nino phenomenon has already affected agricultural production across the country, prompting local governments to declare a state of calamity.

According to a report by Susan Enriquez on GMA's Quick Response Team on Thursday, the whole province of Cotabato has been put under the state of calamity in order to help the affected farmers access the much-needed calamity fund.

In Maguindanao, the same declaration has been made in the towns of Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, and Sultan Sumagka.

Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur is also under the state of calamity after its crops got scorched. No rain has been experienced in the land in the past three months.

Meanwhile, residents of Maasim, Sarangani lament the weakened water supply from the mountains due to lack of sufficient rains in the area.

In Luzon, around 4,000 hectares of agricultural lands in Palawan are also in dire need of water, with more than 2,000 farmers affected.

Crops in San Fernando, La Union were also destroyed after irrigation canals have gone dry.

Vegetables and tobacco crops in Vintar, Ilocos Norte had been infested. In the town of Piddig, a water impounding dam is being built in a bid to address the lack of water supply which has also taken its toll on the availability of feeds for farm animals. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News