• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The province of Negros Oriental is now in a state of calamity, as recommended by its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
In response to the call to action of Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan placed Negros Oriental in a state of calamity, which was approved during its regular session on April 26, citing the adverse effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
Crop damage and other agricultural production losses in Negros Occidental has been reported at more than P240 million.
On the other hand, the damage to rice and corn crops caused by the El Niño phenomenon in Negros Occidental has been pegged at P197.153 million, as of April 26, according to reports of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
However, Negros Occidental is not declaring a state of calamity, according to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, as they still have available funds to help drought affected farmers.
The city of Kabankalan and municipality of Cauayan have earlier placed their respective local government units under a state of calamity, allowing them to use their calamity funds.
Some 131 local government units (LGU) have declared a state of calamity, as the country continues to grapple with the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
Task Force El Niño spokesperson and Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama disclosed that El Niño has so far caused P4.39 billion worth of damage to 77,731 hectares of agricultural lands, citing reports of the Department of Agriculture.
But he said the effects of El Niño this year, in terms of agricultural damage, is still lower compared to the worst El Niño year in history, when 667,000 hectares of land were damaged in 1997.
“So if you compare it 77,000, maliit pa po dahil po sa measures na ipinatupad po ng gobyerno before the onset of El Niño (it is still lower because of the mitigation measures of the government before the onset of El Niño),” Villarama said.* with PNA report
