BACOLOD CITY, March 12 -- The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has allotted a budget of PHP66 million to assist sugarcane farmers in mitigating the effects of prolonged dry weather due to El Nino.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, in a press conference at the SRA office here on Tuesday, said the allocation approved by the SRA Board is being utilized for various projects.

"For El Nino mitigation measures, here in Negros, we have released irrigation equipment for 100 hectares of sugar plantations. We will release more small-sized irrigation units for small farmers on March 19," he added.

Aside from irrigation equipment, also being distributed are shallow tube wells and automated weather stations with moisture sensors, which can ...