Farmers in Mangaldan, Pangasinan are watering their pechay plants every hour to save them from wilting due to extreme heat.

Some crops are already damaged and unsellable, affecting farmers’ income.

Jessie Velasquez, a farmer, said they have been monitoring their fields closely for days as the hot weather dries up their crops.

“Nalalanta na kasi kapag ganitong mainit. Mahahabol pa naman pero kaunti na ang maani namin,” Velasquez said.

To prevent further damage, farmers start watering their crops as early as 9 a.m., continuing until 4 p.m. daily.

The Mangaldan Agriculture Office said this is a common problem whenever the dry season approaches.

They continue to monitor pechay and other high-value crops to assist farmers.

PAGASA recorded temperatures ranging from 23 to 33 degrees Celsius in Pangasinan in recent days and expects even hotter weather once the dry season begins officially.

“’Yung ating nakikita sa east ng Central Pacific ‘yung mainit na hangin na pumupunta sa kalupaan,” Engr. Jose Estrada Jr., Chief Meteorologist of PAGASA-Dagupan City, said.

PAGASA said temperatures could reach up to 39 degrees Celsius as the dry season peaks in March.