ILOILO City – The towns of Sibalom and Anini-y in Antique province, and San Enrique in Negros Occidental, have declared a state of calamity due to the severe impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on their agricultural sectors.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) confirmed that the damage has notably affected the livelihoods of local farmers and the overall agriculture sector.
In Sibalom, 1,344 farmers experienced losses, with 774 hectares of agricultural land damaged, leading to a loss of 1,932.76 metric tons of produce valued at approximately P45.79 million.
Anini-y saw a loss of 23.27 metric tons of agricultural produce, amounting to P465,300. The extent of the damage in terms of the number of affected farmers and hectares was, however, not specified.
San Enrique reported agricultural losses of P9 million, prompting the implementation of a water rationing system.
Raul Fernandez, director of OCD-6, explained the criteria for declaring a state of calamity as stipulated in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) Memorandum Order No. 60.
These encompass a range of impacts, including significant numbers of the population requiring emergency assistance (15 percent), extensive damage to livelihoods and infrastructure (at least 30 percet), and disruption of essential services.
Fernandez further noted that for a province or the entire region to declare a state of calamity, at least two provinces must make such declarations, with each affected province having at least two municipalities declaring a state of calamity.
Across Western Visayas, 50 towns and component cities reported significant damages to OCD-6 and the RDRRMC.
The agriculture sector across five provinces (Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, and Negros Occidental) suffered damages totaling P770.59 million, affecting 20,610 farmers.
The breakdown of damages per province is as follows: Iloilo (P519.2 million), Negros Occidental (P78.45 million), Antique (P130.7 million), Capiz (P12.05 million), and Aklan (P30.19 million).
In response to the crisis, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 distributed 6,369 family food packs, valued at P3.44 million, to the affected towns in Negros Occidental, Antique, Iloilo, and Aklan.
Distribution has been tailored to the level of impact experienced in each area./PN