ILOILO – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has recommended declaring a state of calamity due to the severe impacts of the El Niño phenomenon.
The decision was made during a meeting presided over by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. at Casa Real de Iloilo (old provincial capitol) this Monday morning.
“We need the declaration so we can access more funds to implement El Niño adjustment measures,” said Defensor.
He outlined specific measures the funds would support, including “providing drought-resistant seeds to our agricultural farmers and necessary support to the livestock and poultry sectors which are currently vulnerable.”
According to the PDRRMC, the total damages incurred are estimated at approximately P1.025 billion, affecting various agricultural sectors, including rice, corn, high-value crops, fisheries, and livestock.
The damage assessment, presented by Cornelio Salinas, head of PDRRMO, breaks down as follows:
* rice – P653.1 million
* corn – P219.2 million
* high-value crops – P136.6 million
* fisheries – P16.6 million
* livestock and poultry – P196,552
Salinas reported that 88,764 farmers and fisherfolks have been adversely affected.
Here’s the breakdown – 12,590 rice farmers; 3,901 corn farmers; 71,978 high-value crop farmers; 295 fisherfolks; and 51 farms involved in livestock and poultry.
The geographical impact spans several towns with significant damage in agricultural areas. Twenty-four towns reported damage to their rice fields, 20 to their corn fields, 17 reported damage to high-value crops, five to fisheries, and two reported impacts on livestock and poultry.
Defensor said accessing additional funds “will allow us to implement tailored programs that do not depend solely on water availability, which is scarce due to the drought conditions.”
The memorandum from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council stipulates that a state of calamity declaration can be pursued if at least 15 percent of an anticipated affected population needs emergency assistance, or if 30 percent of livelihood sources are impacted.
“Considering an average family size of five, the affected population in our province is approximately 443,820, well over the 15 percent threshold of our total population based on the 2020 census,” Salinas explained.
The resolution to declare a state of calamity will be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and is expected to be included in the agenda for the next regular session on May 7.
Here are the towns that reported damage:
* rice fields – Tigbauan, Oton, Tubungan, Anilao, San Enrique, Cabatuan, Barotac Nuevo, Miag-ao, Mina, Dingle, Dumangas, Igbaras, Banate, Zarraga, San Miguel, Carles, Leon, Barotac Viejo, Sara, San Rafael, Janiuay, Balasan, Batad, and Estancia
* corn fields – San Enrique, Barotac Viejo, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Concepcion, Estancia, Oton, Maasin, Batad, Lemery, Sara, Calinog, San Rafael, Igbaras, Balasan, Dueñas, San Dionisio, Guimbal, Lambunao, and Janiuay
* high-value crops – Igbaras, San Miguel, Tubungan, Oton, Zarraga, Dumangas, Estancia, Leganes, Alimodian, Anilao, Cabatuan, Leon, Dueñas, Barotac Nuevo, Lemery, Dingle, and Guimbal
* fisheries – Barotac Nuevo, Carles, Dumangas, Banate, and New Lucena
* livestock and poultry – Batad and Zarraga/PN