The Ilocos Norte provincial government, working with local government units and farmers’ associations, has begun building and repairing small farm reservoirs and water impounding dams to help mitigate the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, now affecting this part of Luzon.

Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos confirmed this at a press conference Monday, reporting that early-maturing varieties of vegetables and corn seeds are also being provided to farmers to enable them to continue cultivating their crops amid water scarcity.

“We are starting to feel the effects of drought so we are prioritizing our support for farmers as well as water conservation measures,” she said.

A portable desalination machine was also purchased for the 4th Marine Brigade at Camp Cape Bojeador in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, to provide them with access to potable water from seawater.

Araneta-Marcos said the provincial government plans to procure additional desalination units for the province’s first and second districts to ensure public access to clean, sustainable water.

In addition, farmers and fisherfolk are advised to secure their crops by ensuring they are included in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture masterlist and to strengthen collaboration with concerned government agencies to harmonize solutions to mitigate drought impacts.

The weather bureau recently raised the country’s status from “El Niño Watch” to “El Niño Alert,” signaling a higher chance of below-normal rainfall that may affect irrigation, agriculture, power and health.

The model forecasts suggest an increasing probability of El Niño conditions as early as the third quarter of this year. (PNA)