By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino Workers unload boxes of DSWD family food packs from a truck for shipment to Jomalig, Quezon, where 2,450 ...
By Nimfa L. Estrellado-Laurino
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| Workers unload boxes of DSWD family food packs from a truck for shipment to Jomalig, Quezon, where 2,450 families have been affected by prolonged drought and water shortages brought by El Niño. (DSWD) |
JOMALIG, Quezon - Nearly four months of drought have disrupted rice farming and strained water supplies in Jomalig, Quezon, affecting 2,450 families comprising 7,658 residents across five barangays. The worsening conditions have placed the island municipality under a state of calamity, with farmers struggling to sustain agricultural production as prolonged dry weather threatens household incomes and food security.
The El Niño-induced drought has particularly affected agricultural communities that depend on seasonal rainfall to cultivate rice and other crops. With limited natural freshwater sources, farmers have struggled to maintain planting activities, raising concerns over missed harvests and the financial difficulties facing households dependent on agriculture.
Jomalig Mayor Nelmar Sarmiento disclosed that approximately 40 percent of the municipality's residents rely on agriculture, including rice farming, as their primary source of livelihood. During an October 11 interview with DZMM Teleradyo, he described how nearly four months of insufficient rainfall had disrupted agricultural activities and prevented farmers from following their usual planting schedules.
The mayor emphasized the municipality's dependence on rainfall, particularly in agricultural areas without reliable rivers or other natural freshwater sources. He explained that the absence of sufficient rain had made farming increasingly difficult for households whose earnings depend on successful harvests.
“Halos lahat doon ay walang ilog, walang bundok, bale sa patak ng ulan lang umaasa ang mga magsasaka para maitawid ang kanilang pagtatanim. Kapag patuloy na kulang ang ulan, hindi lamang mga pananim ang naaapektuhan kundi pati ang pagkain at araw-araw na kabuhayan ng aming mga pamilya.” Sarmiento said.
The prolonged dry spell has also disrupted the agricultural calendar, preventing rice farmers from reaching the expected stages of crop production. Without adequate rainfall, affected households face uncertainty over their anticipated harvests, limiting their ability to recover agricultural expenses and maintain their regular sources of income.
Sarmiento also expressed concern over the consequences of delayed planting and the growing difficulties confronting families whose livelihoods depend on rice cultivation. He pointed out that crops should have been approaching their productive stage, but the prolonged drought had interrupted normal farming activities across the municipality.
“Dapat ngayon ay bumubunga na ang palay at naghahanda na sana ang mga magsasaka para sa ani, ngunit naantala ito dahil sa tagtuyot. Kapag hindi agad bumuti ang sitwasyon, mas mahihirapan ang mga pamilyang umaasa sa sakahan na matustusan ang kanilang pagkain at pangunahing pangangailangan.” Sarmiento added.
Beyond agricultural disruption, water shortages have placed additional pressure on communities where access to reliable freshwater supplies is already limited. The dependence of farming households on rainfall has made the municipality particularly vulnerable to extended dry periods, affecting both agricultural production and access to water for daily needs.
Jomalig's geographic isolation has further complicated the situation, as food and other essential supplies must be transported by sea from mainland Quezon. The municipality's dependence on maritime transportation presents additional logistical challenges during emergencies, particularly when affected communities require sustained assistance beyond their existing local resources.
Amid these difficulties, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office IV-A has prepared family food packs and five kilograms of rice for each of the 2,450 affected households. According to its Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center report, the assistance is intended to address immediate food requirements while families continue dealing with the consequences of prolonged dry conditions.
The relief supplies have already been loaded onto a vessel for transport to Jomalig, although their arrival and actual distribution have yet to be confirmed. The shipment was coordinated through Mayor Sarmiento, Quezon First District Representative Wilfrido Mark Enverga, former congresswoman Trina Enverga and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
Jomalig is among four municipalities in Quezon placed under a state of calamity because of El Niño, alongside Alabat, General Nakar and Guinayangan. The declarations reflect the broader effects of persistent dry conditions on agricultural communities, particularly in areas facing limited water availability and disruptions to farming activities.
Across CALABARZON, agricultural damage associated with El Niño had reached approximately ₱19.7 million as of October 14, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The regional losses form part of wider agricultural damage reported across the country, highlighting the vulnerability of farming communities to prolonged rainfall deficits and reduced irrigation supplies.
National authorities have warned that El Niño could intensify in the coming months, placing additional pressure on water availability and agricultural production. For rainfall-dependent island communities such as Jomalig, further dry conditions could prolong farming disruptions and increase the need for continued food and water assistance.
Meanwhile, the DSWD continues to maintain prepositioned family food packs in satellite warehouses across CALABARZON for communities affected by disasters and emergencies. The planned shipment to Jomalig is intended to provide immediate food assistance to 2,450 families across five barangays as the municipality continues responding to the effects of the drought.
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