ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is considering placing the entire province under a state of calamity due to the El Niño phenomenon.
As of Feb. 21, a partial report from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) indicated that 7,538.47 hectares have been impacted by El Niño, with 1,621.66 hectares completely damaged and 5,916.81 hectares partially damaged.
A total of 6,967 farmers in 13 municipalities have been affected.
Regarding the extent of the damage, the PAO has yet to submit the latest report to the Office of the Governor. However, Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Ildefonso Toledo recently acknowledged that the agricultural damage already exceeded P100 million and is expected to further rise.
“Yes, that is correct. We are ready; it will help us because there are actions we can only take if a declaration is made,” Defensor stated in response to a question from Panay News about the possibility of declaring a state of calamity due to the El Niño.
However, Defensor mentioned that, at present, there is no need to access additional funds to assist affected farmers because the budget for El Niño measures and assistance is incorporated into the 2023 and 2024 programs.
The 13 impacted towns were Tigbauan (361.35 hectares affected), Oton (594.27 hectares), Tubungan (339.84 hectares), Anilao (1,147.30 hectares), San Enrique (140.19 hectares), Cabatuan (204.78 hectares), Barotac Nuevo (2,297.91 hectares), Miag-ao (35.45 hectares), Mina (222.50 hectares), Dingle (1,024.20 hectares), Dumangas (1,718.93 hectares), Igbaras (24.75 hectares), and Banate (527.00 hectares).
Data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) showed that the damage from El Niño in the region, especially in the agriculture sector, has so far reached P251,431,000.
The majority of the damage is to rice and corn crops, which have suffered due to their leaves withering, particularly in the province of Iloilo, known as the rice granary of Western Visayas.
“For the past six months, they have experienced a shortage of water for their crops,” said Cindy Ferrer, spokesperson for the RDRRMC-6.
‘Be Reasonable in Using Water’
Due to forecasts by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that the provinces of the region may face a drought by April or May, Defensor is urging the public to conserve water.
“It is one of the solutions. We should be rational and proper in using water, especially when it is scarce. We need to maximize our water use and our methods of using water,” Defensor advised.
Defensor explained that, since 2023, the provincial government has developed water conservation guidelines to prepare for the effects of El Niño. These guidelines have been distributed in 42 towns, including Passi City.
However, Defensor noted that the province is not yet experiencing a critical drought as of February.
“Our level here in Iloilo is abnormal, but there are levels, including critical, and I see that we are not at the critical level yet,” Defensor said.
According to PAGASA’s forecast, the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo are experiencing a dry spell in February.
A dry spell is defined as three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall conditions (21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall), while a drought is defined as three consecutive months of way below-normal rainfall conditions (less than a 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).
Defensor said the provincial government is prepared to assist affected farmers. Even before this, he said, the government allocated a budget for small-scale irrigation and pump irrigation projects to help farmers create reservoirs and distribute fertilizers.
Additionally, Defensor advocates for farmers to insure their crops to receive compensation in case they are affected by El Niño.
“For us, it’s a better option than providing a P5,000 hand-out. The insurance policy is preferable, requiring a smaller premium but offering greater benefits, which is why the frontline strategy is to help them insure their crops,” said Defensor./PN
