ILOILO City — The ongoing El Niño phenomenon continues wreaking havoc on livelihoods and the agriculture sector in Western Visayas.
According to the latest situational report dated April 19 from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), several local government units (LGUs) have now declared a state of calamity.
Areas affected include the entire province of Antique and the towns of Sara and Estancia in Iloilo Province, as well as San Lorenzo and Buenavista in Guimaras, and San Enrique in Negros Occidental.
Towns such as Sibalom, Anini-y, San Remigio, Tobias Fornier, and Laua-an in Antique were the initial municipalities to declare a state of calamity. This action prompted the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), led by Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, to declare a comprehensive province-wide state of calamity to effectively utilize Antique’s P10-million Quick Response Fund (QRF).
Under Memorandum Order No. 60 of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the conditions warranting such declarations include:
* a minimum of 15 percent of the anticipated affected population requiring emergency assistance based on scientifically validated projections
* at least 30 percent of livelihood sources in the agriculture, business, and industrial sectors experiencing impacts
* extensive destruction across fishponds, crops, poultry, and livestock
* significant damage to crucial infrastructure and lifeline facilities, including major roads, bridges, power stations, water supply systems, and telecommunication networks
* disruption of essential services such as food supply chains, electricity, potable water, transportation, communications, and healthcare access, which cannot be restored within a week — or within 24 hours in highly urbanized areas
* notable degradation of environmental and natural resources, as advised by relevant government agencies
OCD-6 regional director Raul Fernandez said a declaration from two or more towns is necessary to trigger a province-wide state of calamity.
Similarly, for a region to declare a state of calamity, at least two provinces must have made such declarations. To date, Antique is the only province that has declared a state of calamity.
Further reports from OCD-6 indicated that a total of 51 local government units, encompassing both towns and cities, have submitted damage reports due to El Niño.
Iloilo Province reports 20 affected LGUs including 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.
In Negros Occidental, 12 LGUs have reported impacts: Himamaylan, Cauayan, Hinobaan, Sipalay, Binalbagan, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Ilog, Kabankalan, Valladolid, and Murcia.
Antique has seen 12 LGUs affected: Hamtic, Patnongon, Valderrama, Anini-y, Tobias Fornier, San Jose, Sibalom, San Remigio, Barbaza, Culasi, Laua-an, and Bugasong.
Capiz has one affected LGU: Dumarao.
Aklan reported damages in six LGUs: Malinao, Lezo, Banga, New Washington, Altavas, and Madalag.
Collectively, the region has reported a staggering P770,589,875.78 in damages due to the El Niño phenomenon. The breakdown per province is as follows:
* Iloilo – P519,198,659.50
* Negros Occidental – P78,451,351.76
* Antique – P130,701,505.20
* Capiz – P12,051,200
* Aklan – P30,187,159.32
As of April 19, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had distributed 32,391 family food packs, valued at P18,413,424.90, to El Niño-affected families in Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental./PN
