AS THE provincial government of Misamis Oriental braces for the dry spell that is projected to hit the province next month, the agriculture office has begun mapping and gearing up for the possible worst case scenario.
Apollo Pacamalan, head of the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), said they are already monitoring all towns and cities, even as agriculture workers are out on the field to survey the entire province.
He said PAO is looking into municipalities or cities which are not yet on the harvesting stage since the looming drought may possibly hit on March and April.
"Mando ni Governor Bambi Emano nga karon pa daan mag-mapping na unsa ang worst case scenario kay magproblema man ta kung dili ta mangandam," Pacamalan said.
"Ga-survey ta karon aha ang mga munisipyo nga wala pay harvesting stage kay between March to April harvesting na sa commodity then preparation na pud sa planting by June and July so when worse comes to worst nag-link na ta sa quick response unit," he added.
Pacamalan said food supply will be pre-positioned later on if food problem affects every household.
He also said around 500 sacks of corn and rice seeds are ready for distribution once farmers are all set for the planting season.
"We are working and ensuring every household naay food production kana atong gihingusgan apil tong mga schools nga naay vegetable garden," Pacamalan said.
"Since December pa gaandam na kita duna tay mga makinarya apil na mga pumps nga gi-preposition," he added.
Misamis Oriental is among the provinces in Mindanao which will likely be affected by the dry spell which will last for a month or two, according to the state weather bureau.
"We rely on Pagasa for update kay last time na-mention nga naay below normal sa temperature sa Misamis Oriental particularly near Medina and western part. Ang nakita nila is a month or two nga dry spell pero usually ting-init man gyud ang March ug April pero wala ta nagpasagad ug nangandam gyud ta," he added.