ANTIQUE – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Antique has placed the province under a state of calamity following the devastating impact of Tropical Storm “Crising” and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), which caused widespread damage across 15 municipalities.
The declaration was made through Resolution No. 07, s. 2025, passed during a council meeting on Thursday, July 24, at the PDRRMO. Chaired by Gov. Paolo Javier, the PDRRMC recommended the move to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to enable the province to access its Quick Response Fund (QRF).
“This will allow the province to utilize a portion of its Quick Response Fund to respond to urgent needs, assist affected residents, and initiate early recovery and reconstruction efforts,” the council stated.
The PDRRMO added: “The declaration of a state of calamity is not just a legal mechanism. It is a vital step to mobilize resources, fast-track relief, and protect the lives and livelihoods of Antiqueños.”
Based on the latest data, 22,729 families or 73,706 individuals across 242 barangays have been affected by flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage. The municipalities of Barbaza, Sebaste, and Culasi were the first to declare their own local state of calamity, fulfilling the requirement under Republic Act 10121 for a provincial-wide declaration.
A Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) revealed that Antique has incurred an estimated P626 million in total damages. Of this, more than P610 million was attributed to damaged infrastructure and lifeline services, including roads, bridges, flood control systems, schools, and hospitals.
Losses in the agriculture and fisheries sectors have surpassed P15.36 million, affecting rice and corn production, livestock, aquaculture, and marine culture operations.
The PDRRMO also reported damage to 190 houses, 51 of which were totally destroyed.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continued to assess the extent of damage to the Bacong River dike in Culasi, which developed visible cracks last week.
For their part, acting Vice Gov. Karmila Rose Dimamay confirmed that the SP will hold a special session to formalize the declaration. Antique’s current QRF stands at P35,068,747, although officials clarified that only a portion will be utilized to preserve funds for potential future emergencies as the typhoon season progresses.
Relief operations and damage assessments were still ongoing, and officials warned that the number of affected families and the total estimated losses may rise in the coming days./PN
