MANILA: The effects of the El Niño phenomenon have caused more than PHP1 billion in agricultural damage across the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

In its latest situation update, the NDRRMC has logged damage worth PHP1.06 billion in 17,718.11 hectares of crop areas in the regions of Ilocos, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Western Visayas has so far sustained the biggest amount of damage at PHP687.7 million, followed by Mimaropa with PHP319.7 million, Ilocos with PHP54.4 million, Calabarzon with PHP2.75 million, and Zamboanga Peninsula with PHP717,527.

A total of 23,086 farmers and fisherfolk have so far been affected.

Source: Philippines News Agency