El Niño drought threatens crops, water supply in Oriental Mindoro town

BULALACAO, Oriental Mindoro – A worsening drought due to El Niño is threatening agricultural production and drinking water supplies in Bulalacao, as farmers struggle to irrigate drying rice fields and residents face severe water shortages.

Mayor Lumelito Cabagay told DZMM TeleRadyo that temperatures began rising sharply in October, with rainfall becoming scarce following heavy rains in August and September.

Water levels in local rivers have dropped, forcing farmers to pump water into irrigation canals to sustain their rice crops.

Cabagay said the municipal government coordinated with the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), and barangay officials to seek diesel fuel subsidies from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to run water pumps.

“Nagkaroon kami ng meeting sa konsehal na kung sakali magkakaroon ng subsidy ay hihingi sa DA, sa Department of Agriculture ng subsidy para doon sa mga krudo, pang-diesel dahil kung walang ulan, magpa-pump ng tubig para lang magtuloy-tuloy,” Cabagay said.

He added that canals operated by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) could no longer supply sufficient water, leaving farmers reliant on nearby rivers.

“Dahil wala po talaga kami makunan kundi sa ilog, dahil hindi na dumadaloy sa canal ng NIA dahil mataas,” he said.

The drought has raised concerns over declining crop yields, with some rice crops already showing signs of disease.

“‘Yung iba naming palay may sakit na, namumula na dahil kung tuloy-tuloy ang init, sabi ng MAO ko, maaapektuhan po talaga,” Cabagay said.

Drinking water availability has likewise become a critical concern. 

Cabagay said he had been arranging water deliveries almost daily to some communities.

“May dalawa ako kahapon na tangke, may mga humihingi na ng supply, mga one week na silang walang tubig kaya halos araw-araw po nagsu-supply na ako ng tubig,” he said.

The municipal government is considering declaring a state of calamity as conditions worsen.

Rice and onions serve as the town’s primary agricultural commodities.

Bulalacao was previously placed under a state of calamity in 2024 following a severe El Niño-driven drought.