Farmers in Occidental Mindoro were hit by a twin calamity as their crops were simultaneously devastated by severe drought brought about by El Niño and infestation of army worms, locally known as "harabas"..

Onion plantations were particularly affected by the army worms.

Farmers are rushing to harvest their crops before the remaining ones are completely consumed by army worms.

"Kapag nabutas na po hindi na po maaaring mabili, reject na po yun," said Jerry Muñez, a farmer from Paluan town. 

(Once it's pierced, it can't be bought, it's rejected.)

Farmers are forced to harvest onions even if they are only two and a half months old .

According to the farmers, the onions are of poor quality and command lower prices due to their small size.

But they believe it is better to earn some income rather than nothing at all.

"Kung ano po abutin namin eh di yun lang. Gumastos na ako dyan ng mga P50,000 puro utang pa rin ay salamat naman po at may nakuha rin kaunti," said Muñez. 

(Whatever is left then that's it. I've already spent about P50,000 in debt, but thanks and I got a little bit too.)

Farmers have tried various pesticides, but they have been unsuccessful in eradicating the army worms.

"Samu't saring gamot na ang ginagawa ay hindi po masugpo. Kaya kahit mura pa binubunot na namin, lugi nga po, ang laki po ng gastos,” said Nicolas Aguilar, another onion farmer. 

(Different chemicals have been used but that can't stop the infestation. So even if it's cheap, we're pulling it out, it's a loss to us, the size of the cost is huge.)

According to data from the provincial agriculture office of Occidental Mindoro, the damage caused by the army worms has reached P30.2 million.

Most farmers used loans as their capital for planting. Now that they have been hit by El Nino and the destructive army worms, they not only have no income but also find themselves in debt.

They are pleading for assistance from the national government to help them recover. 

"Sana naman po ay mabigyan nyo kami kahit kaunting ayuda dito po sa Paluan, kami po talaga ay sinalanta na ng army worms," said Renato Terrogoza. 

(I hope you can give us at least a little help here in Paluan, we are really ravaged by army worms.)

"Konting tulong lang mula sa ating pangulo BBM sana naman mapansin ang aming hinaing na sa Paluan na magsisibuyas na mabigyan ng kaonting ayuda para makabawi sa aming gastos " Ronald Tibidad said. 

(Just a little help from our president BBM, I hope our grievance will be noticed here in Paluan onion farmers who beg to be given a little help to make up for our expenses.)

There is also a scarcity of water for irrigation in the rice fields.

Water from springs has disappeared, and the Calawagan River, which serves as the irrigation source, has little water left.

Farmer Reynado Rivera worries about how he will repay his debts when he has only harvested less than 10 sacks of rice compared to the usual 80 sacks due to the lack of water.

“Sampung kaban yung aking bayad sa tao na nag-aararo, tapos 10 kaban din sa kalabaw. Eh 20 na agad. Tapos baka hindi pa makasampu, kita nyo naman. Magkaka-utang pa ho sigurado dahil hindi naman pwedeng hindi bayaran yun nagtrabaho," Rivera lamented. 

(I pay 10 bags to the person who plows, then 10 bags to the buffalo handler as well. That's already 20. Then it might not even be 10, you see. I'm sure I will still owe money because it's impossible not to pay those who worked.)

The mayor of Paluan, Michael Diaz, has also made a plea for assistance.

“Talaga pong dumaranas na po ng taghirap na po ang aming mga kababayan, matulungan kami ng insurance, ng Philippine crop insurance ng ating bayan”  Mayor Diaz urged. 

(Our countrymen are really suffering, please help us with the insurance, the Philippine crop insurance of our country.)

The total value of the drought damage to rice fields in Occidental Mindoro has reached P259 million.

The towns of San Jose, Magsaysay, and Looc have been placed under a state of calamity, and the entire province is expected to follow suit after the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to the Provincial Board.

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