The abnormal weather conditions made rice production difficult for the farmers. It also contributed to the occurrence of plant pests; there was proliferation of “dangaw” or rice bugs that plagued the young palay grains resulting to low yield. Moreover, a viral disease of rice plant associated with soil and water condition called “Lehaw” became severe wherein affected rice field were not planted due to the stunted growth of rice plant. Within this period, the fusarium wilt afflicted camote, a root crop disease that usually affect root crops. The disease destroys the leaves and stems and eventually the roots until the full plant withered. Aside from the plant diseases, there was also massive demise of animals like chicken and dogs which the villagers believed that is it linked with the abnormal weather condition.
According to Rommel Liwanen of Barangay Alunogan, Natonin. Mt. Province, the source of water coming from the streams and springs declined resulting to reduced amount of water for irrigations and domestic uses. This situation was aggravated by damaged irrigation canals during Typhoon Lando in October 2015 which was left unrepaired, He said that his harvest reduced by 35%.
After two and half months of drought, continuous pouring of rain followed that added another chaos to the community. Incalculable fields and irrigation canals were eroded due to abrupt swelling of water sources as a result of heavy rainfall. The drought bore soil cracks, so with the sudden rain; soil erosion was rampant along the roads, rice fields and rice paddies. One of the affected irrigation was the Fuknagchanum-Tafiangao Community Irrigation which was constructed in 2013 through joint efforts of the Alunogan Farmer’s Association (AFA), the Barangay Local Government and the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services, the landslide and soil subsidence destroyed the HDPE pipes used. Yet, with the practice of “Alluyun” a traditional practice of community work, the irrigation was repaired.
Aside from agricultural production and damaged community infrastructures, an important infrastructure was damaged; the portion of a concrete road at Talubin, Bontoc leading to the municipalities of Barlig, Natonin and Paracelis in Mt. Province was heavily eroded. This situation affected the mobility of the people, commuters have to transfer to other public utility jitney and it also resulted to fare hike.