A crippling drought continues to ravage the more than 270,000 hectares of land used for agricultural production or 66.54% of the general land use of Bohol  despite patches of rain that fell on some parts of the province last week.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) has reported that 37 provinces including Bohol are in severe drought conditions including 14 in Luzon, 10 in the Visayas and 12 in Mindanao.

Declared by the Provincial Government in a state of calamity, Bohol has suffered more than P400 million worth crop damages according to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Provinces in Luzon suffering from the El Nino weather phenomenon are Ifugao, Mt. Province, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales and Palawan.

A parched Visayas included Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Biliran, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras and Negros Occidental.

The drought plagued areas in Mindanao are Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Sarrangani, Surigao del Norte, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Davao del Sur, Zamboanga, Sibugay and Camiguin.

As El Nino is expected to start waning at the end of the month, according to PAG-ASA , an El Nina watch is now on the radar of weathermen and is expected to bring heavy rains and storms. (Chito M. Visarra with reports from Rey Tutas)