ILOILO City – The situation remains manageable, and there is no immediate need to declare Western Visayas in a state of calamity due to the El Niño phenomenon, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6.
Director Raul Fernandez said the effects of El Niño have been alleviated through early interventions by relevant government agencies and local government units (LGUs).
“We cannot declare a state of calamity at this moment because the situation is still manageable. Although El Niño, a consequence of climate change, is inevitable, the timely response from our government agencies has mitigated its impact. Therefore, no declaration is necessary at this time,” Fernandez said during an interview with DYRI RMN Iloilo on Wednesday morning, February 28.
Fernandez noted that there are specific criteria for declaring a state of calamity, referencing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) Memorandum Order No. 60, Series of 2018, and Republic Act 10121, also known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
“We have yet to meet the conditions for a state of calamity. While some provinces are considering declaration, they must meet certain criteria first,” stressed Fernandez.
The criteria for declaring a state of calamity under 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
Fernandez said Antique and Iloilo are the most affected provinces, with 13 LGUs each, followed by Negros Occidental with eight and Capiz with one.
“The damage is primarily in rice and corn,” said Fernandez.
Iloilo reported the highest agricultural losses at P365 million, followed by Antique at P102 million, Negros Occidental at P60 million, and Capiz at P2.7 million.
Iloilo also has the highest number of affected farmers, nearly 7,000, followed by Antique with 2,845, Negros Occidental with 452, and Capiz with 30.
Fernandez assured the public that the government has been preparing for the impact on agriculture since last year, with the National Food Authority (NFA) maintaining sufficient rice buffer stocks.
“We have a supply of rice, with enough buffer stock to meet our community’s needs,” said Fernandez.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has distributed heat-resistant seeds since last year for planting this season.
Additionally, the OCD-6 is collecting damage reports from LGUs on other affected sectors, including vegetable farming and fisheries.
Fernandez reported a dry spell across the region, except for Negros Occidental, which is already experiencing drought. He advised the public to be extra cautious regarding fire risks, especially as hotter weather is expected in April, possibly extending into May.
A dry spell is defined as three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions (21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).
Drought is defined as three consecutive months of way below-normal rainfall conditions (less than a 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).
In January 2024, the region recorded four grass fires and 31 residential and structural fires. This February, there have been nine grass fires and an equal number of residential and structural fires.
Fernandez emphasized the importance of fire safety, particularly in the kitchen, and advised against leaving appliances plugged in when not at home to prevent overheating and fire hazards.
To address these issues, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-6 under OCD-6 will convene a meeting today to discuss ongoing interventions.
The Western Visayas El Niño Task Group, led by the Department of Interior and Local Government and OCD, along with partner agencies, is responsible for monitoring the situation, educating the public, securing support from various sectors, identifying funding sources, and implementing the Regional Comprehensive and Integrated Action Plan (CIAP) for El Niño, endorsed and approved during the RDRRMC-6 full council meeting in December 2023.
The CIAP aims to help the public cope with El Niño and minimize its adverse effects./PN
