Manila, Sept. 11 -- At least 30,013 hectares of rice farms in Eastern Visayas have been identified as highly vulnerable to El Nino, prompting the Department of Agriculture (DA) to map out measures to mitigate its impact.

DA Eastern Visayas Regional Executive Director Rodel Macapanas said in an interview Friday that the areas highly susceptible to drought are more than double the 14,185 hectares identified as vulnerable to flooding in the region.

The areas identified as highly vulnerable are the towns of Tabango, Villaba, Sta. Fe, Alangalang, Palo, San Miguel and Ormoc City in Leyte province; and Naval, Caibiran, Biliran and Almeria in Biliran province.

In Samar Island, these include Paranas, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Sta. Rita, San Jorge,...