BACOLOD City – The town of San Enrique in Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity as the rice-producing town bears the brunt of the El Niño phenomenon.
The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) approved the recommendation from the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council during a special session on Monday, April 8.
The fourth district municipality has been badly hit by the intense weather conditions that, according to Mayor Jilson Tubillara, dried up the town’s irrigation system.
Tubillara earlier reported that the town has been implementing a water rationing system and recorded P9 million in losses to its agriculture sector.
The municipal government is also planning to give cash assistance to affected farmers, aside from the financial aid to be given by the provincial government. However, the mayor did not specify the amount, which will be based on the assessment and recommendation of the municipal agriculturist.
During its special session, the SB also passed a resolution requesting Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to organize cloud seeding operations. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
