ILOILO – To date, 19 towns in this province have reported significant damage to agriculture caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
Is the provincial government considering the declaration of a state of calamity?
According to Cornelio Salinas, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), relevant offices of the provincial government, including the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAgRO) and PDRRMO, are readying a situational report.
This preparation is in anticipation of a meeting that may be called by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., as chairperson of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), to request a Post-Disaster Damage Assessment Need Analysis. This would enable them to present data or a damage report.
“However, if two or more towns have already declared a state of calamity under their own jurisdiction, the province will have no choice but to declare one as well,” Salinas told Panay News.
Citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) Memorandum Order No. 60, Series of 2018, and Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, Salinas said at least two towns in the province must declare a state of calamity before a province-wide declaration can be made.
Currently, four towns are planning to declare a state of calamity – Anilao, Carles, Dumangas, and Barotac Nuevo.
El Niño damage in the four towns are as follows: Anilao – P52,223,800; Carles – P15,385,850; Dumangas – P120,836,330; and Barotac Nuevo – P67,919,610.
A town can declare a state of calamity if it has met the criteria set in NDRRMC Memorandum Order No. 60. This includes:
* At least 15 percent of the forecasted affected population need emergency assistance based on science-based projections;
* At least 30 percent of the means of livelihood in the agricultural, business, and industrial sectors are affected;
* Damage to critical infrastructure/facilities;
* Widespread destruction of fishponds, crops, poultry, and livestock;
* Disruption of lifelines such as food chains, electricity, water systems, other transport systems, communication systems, access to health services, and other related systems that cannot be restored within a week, or within twenty-four hours for highly urbanized areas; and
* Significant degradation of the environment and natural resources.
Salinas said declaring a state of calamity allows a local government unit (LGU) to access the Quick Response Fund (QRF) to assist affected farmers.
In the event the province declares a state of calamity later, it could utilize the P61 million QRF for 2024.
According to Salinas, El Niño has so far caused P473,404,914 damage to the province, affecting 9,850 farmers across an area of 9,198.53 hectares.
Here’s the damage breakdown of the 19 towns: Tigbauan (P17,591,834), Oton (P32,475,326), Tubungan (P22,122,120), Anilao (P52,223,800), San Enrique (P2,956,879), Cabatuan (P42,881,524), Barotac Nuevo (P67,919,610), Miag-ao (P2,872,117), Mina (P7,962,403), Dingle (P7,130,011), Dumangas (P120,836,330), Igbaras (P4,737,960), Banate (P39,188,402), Zarraga (P913,008), San Miguel (P5,839,222), Carles (P15,385,850), Leon (P9,668,457), Barotac Viejo (P3,869,505), and Sara (P16,830,550).
“The El Niño has extensively damaged our crops. Fortunately, our livestock still has access to water. Currently, only drought-resilient, water-resilient plants, root crops, and high-value crops are surviving,” said Salinas.
The number of farmers affected in the 19 towns are: Tigbauan (424), Oton (631), Tubungan (780), Anilao (1,176), San Enrique (181), Cabatuan (1,023), Barotac Nuevo (937), Miag-ao (87), Mina (353), Dingle (110), Dumangas (1,489), Igbaras (208), Banate (770), Zarraga (12), San Miguel (125), Carles (630), Leon (279), Barotac Viejo (62), and Sara (573)./PN
