A government task force is set to help some 4,000 farmers in Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula who are severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

Task Force El Niño spokesperson Joey Villarama said the farmers will receive seeds for alternative crops after the weather phenomenon affected more rice and corn plantation.

The farmers will also receive social protection including other forms of livelihood. "Binigyan sila ng domestic animals para meron silang mapagkunan ng kabuhayan," he said.

The government will also fix irrigation canals and conduct cloudseeding operations to help the affected farmer

A government bulletin earlier said agricultural damage due to El Niño has reached P151 million, with possible production losses pegged at 6,618 metric tons of palay and corn, mostly in Iloilo, Antique, Negros Occidental, and Zamboanga Del Norte.

Agri damage due to El Niño tops P150 million

The Department of Agriculture (DA) also reported that 3,291 hectares were affected by the dry spell.

Villarama said a PAGASA report expects the strong El Niño to persist until May.

"By June, medyo magshi-shift siya pero hindi natin alam kung El Niño pa rin o La Niña na," he said.