Task Force El Niño spokesperson Joey Villarama has warned of the possible fish kill in ponds amidst the impact of the persisting El Niño phenomenon.
Interviewed during DZRH Public Service Hour on Monday, February 26, Villarama said the low clean water supply can result in an algal bloom which can harm fish and other aquatic life.
"Binabantayan din natin ang fish ponds, yung mga aquaculture ponds kasi pwede magkaroon ng accumulation ng algal bloom. Kung walang pagkukunan ng malinis na tubig sa mga fish fonds na ito, pwedeng mamatay ang isda," he said.
The Task Force El Niño spokesperson said they will monitor the fish kill in ponds as this a "controlled environment."
He said they will also look into fish kill reports that may occur in natural bodies of water such as sea, river, and ocean.
According to Villarama, there are fish species that can thrive in high temperatures such as sardines.
Task Force El Niño spokesperson Joey Villarama: As of the weekend, nadagdagan yung regions na affected. Ang affected ngayon ng dry spell ay ang Region 1 which is Ilocos region, MIMAROPA, at yung dalawa na Western Visayas at Zamboanga Peninsula.
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El Niño affecting the crop sector
The Task Force El Niño spokesperson said the agriculture department has assured a sufficient rice supply rice until the end of September, attributing this to forthcoming imports and the start of the harvesting season.
He said they anticipate that the El Niño will leave minimal damage to rice fields.
"Sa ngayon, less than 1% ang nasirang papanim na palay. Ang projection ng National Irrigation Administration ay 275 thousand hectares ang possibleng maapektuhan nang matinding init. So far, nasa 7,600 hectares ang naapektuhan sa taniman doon sa mga apektadong rehiyon," Villarama added.
As of February 25, the agriculture department's bulletin showed that agriculture damages and losses due to El Niño have risen to ₱357.4 million, affecting 7,668 farmers in Ilocos Region, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The total value loss in rice fields stands at ₱284.27 million, corn at ₱60.70 million, and high-value crops at ₱12.41 million.
While food supply may be sufficient amidst the El Niño, Villarama said the agriculture and trade departments should closely watch the prices of goods and services.
"Ang problema diyan ay baka may mag-take advantage na merchants or retailers. Dapat binabantayan talaga ito ng DA sa tulong ng DTI ang presyo ng bilihin. Umaapela rin tayo sa ating mga merchants na huwag samantalahin yung sitwasyon para ma-avoid ang crisis situation," he said.
