• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As another municipality was added to the list of local government units placed under a state of calamity because of the drought, the damage to rice, corn, high value commercial crops (HVCC), and fisheries brought about by the El Niño phenomenon in Negros Occidental, has further risen to P318,958,988, as of May 15.
Mayor Enrique Miravalles has confirmed that Valladolid town is now under a state of calamity, due to the effects of drought affecting all its 16 barangays.
The cities of San Carlos and Kabankalan, as well as San Enrique town have earlier placed their respective LGUs under a state of calamity.
A 60-day price freeze on basic necessities is now being implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry in Valladolid, San Enrique, and Kabankalan City, but not yet in San Carlos City.
In her report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola disclosed that damage to rice was P298,474, 128.14, affecting 8,431 farmers tilling 6,015 hectares of land in 221 of 28 local government units in Negros Occidental.
Corn damage was P8,346,482.26, affecting 280 farmers tilling 189.29 hectares of land, Genzola also reported.
High Value Commercial Crop damage was also pegged at P8,582,356, affecting 9,218 farmers tilling 6,287.94 hectares of land, the OPA report further stated.
Damage to fisheries was reported also by OPA at P3,556,022 affecting 34 fisherfolk in six Negros Occidental LGUs.
On the other hand, damage to animals and pasture lands was valued at P16,470,150, according to a report of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.*
