Rains have started to pour, but Boholanos continue to grapple with the lingering effects of the El Nino phenomenon which has devastated crops and dried up water sources, putting the province under a state of calamity and leaving local government agencies scrambling to offer aid to severely affected towns.

According to Governor Edgar Chatto, concerned government agencies including the province’s agriculture office and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have been continuously extending assistance to towns severely affected by the dry spell that went on for months and had only begun to wane in the latter part of May.

The government also noted that in these towns, farmers and fishermen are the most affected by the drought which has prompted authorities to prioritize assistance for them, Chatto said through his “Kita og Ang Gobernador” program.

The municipalities of Candijay, Bein Unido, Tubigon, Antequera, Talibon, and Ubay have already received assistance according to reports sent by town officials, he added.

Other than relief goods, the DSWD also delivered equipment for planting and water pumps for the fields, among other tools, in affected areas.

According to the latest data from the local agriculture office, P410 million worth of agricultural products were affected by the drought.

The province of Bohol has a total of 47,000 hectares of crop fields and most parts have been damaged because of the heat and lack of rain.

Chatto previously admitted that the relief operations had been delayed because of the election ban.

Since the election, the government has been offering assistance to towns across the province.

The governor assured the public that government agencies will not stop conducting relief operations in affected towns while the province is under a state of calamity. (with reports from Allen Doydora)