As high temperatures threaten farmlands, the local government of Mangaldan has formed "Task Force Bantay Pananim" to monitor and assist vegetable farmers affected by the extreme heat.

The task force, composed of members from the agriculture office, will assess the condition of farms and provide necessary interventions.

"May mga agricultural technologist tayong nagmo-monitor sa mga barangay para malaman ang sitwasyon ng mga magsasaka at mga pananim," Manuel Aquino, a task force member, said.

Some farmers, like those in Barangay Bantayan, have already taken measures to save their crops by using water pumps.

"'Yung mga tanim namin, namamatay na kapag wala nang tubig," Juliet Velasquez, a farmer struggling to keep her pechay crops alive, said.

Despite the dry conditions, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) assured that irrigation canals still have sufficient water.

Meanwhile, the agriculture office continues to encourage farmers to enroll their crops in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to mitigate potential losses.

Authorities are also preparing further interventions should the situation worsen.