ILOILO City – The agriculture sector of five provinces in Western Visayas has suffered significant damage due to the El Niño phenomenon, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).
The Council cited the adverse impacts on rice, corn and high-value crops across Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Antique, Capiz, and Aklan. The total damage reached 34,029.427 metric tons, with an estimated cost of P770,589,875.7.
Here’s the breakdown of the losses:
* Iloilo – P519,198,659
* Antique – P130,701,505
* Negros Occidental – P78,451,35
* Aklan – P30,187,159
* Capiz – P12,051,200
In Iloilo, the towns of Tigbauan, Oton, Tubungan, Anilao, San Enrique, Cabatuan, Barotac Nuevo, Miag-ao, Mina, Dingle, Dumangas, Igbaras, Banate, Zarraga, San Miguel, Carles, Barotac Viejo, Concepcion, Estancia, and Leon were affected.
Negros Occidental reported losses in Himamaylan, Cauayan, Hinobaan, Sipalay, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Ilog, Kabankalan, Valladolid, and Murcia.
In Antique, the towns of Hamtic, Patnongon, Valderrama, Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, San Jose, Sibalom, San Remigio, Barbaza, Culasi, Laua-an, and Bugasong were impacted.
The affected towns in Capiz included Malinao, Lezo, Banga, New Washington, Altavas, and Madalag.
The province of Guimaras did not submit any reports of damage.
The El Niño phenomenon has affected a total of 20,610 farmers in the region, with the distribution as follows: Iloilo – 10,116; Negros Occidental – 1,983; Antique – 4,588; Capiz – 152; and Aklan – 3,771.
Out of 15,583.19 hectares impacted, 1,276.76 hectares were totally damaged, while 14,306.44 hectares suffered partial damage.
Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental is the only area to have reported a shortage in water supply, particularly in the barangays of Cabadiangan, Nabalian, Carabalan, Su-ay, To-oy, and Buenavista.
As of April 1, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 has distributed 90 family food packs worth P59,850 to affected farmers in Hinigaran and Valladolid, Negros Occidental.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 director Raul Fernandez assured ongoing support from various government agencies and provincial and local government units to the affected farmers.
But despite increasing reports of damage, Fernandez said the region cannot yet declare a state of calamity. At least two or more provinces must declare a state of calamity before the region can do so.
Furthermore, a province can declare a state of calamity only if at least two or more municipalities within it have declared such.
The criteria for declaring a state of calamity under National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) Memorandum Order No. 60 include:
* a minimum of 15 percent of the population projected to be affected requires emergency assistance
* at least 30 percent of livelihood sources in agriculture, business, and industry are impacted
* damage to crucial infrastructure such as major roads, bridges, power stations, water supply systems, and telecommunications facilities
* extensive destruction of fishponds, crops, poultry, and livestock
* disruption of essential services such as food supply, electricity, water, transportation, communication, and health services that cannot be restored within one week, or within 24 hours in highly urbanized areas
* significant environmental and natural resource degradation, as recommended by government agencies/PN
