Another Negros Occidental city under state of calamity

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — San Carlos City in Negros Occidental is now under a state of calamity due to drought amid the El Niño phenomenon.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chaired by Mayor Renato Gustilo recommended the state of calamity declaration, which  was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod during its special session on Monday.

Damage to agriculture was placed at P17.6 million, with 375 hectares of land and 518 farmers affected.

Kabankalan City and San Enrique town, also in Negros Occidental, had earlier been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of El Niño.

Damage to crops in the entire province was placed at P214 million as of May 3.

Negros Oriental was placed under a state of calamity last week as damage to agriculture has increased to P240 million. It was the eighth province placed under calamity status.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Negros Occidental is preparing for the rainy season following the announcement by the Department of Science and Technology that there is a 62 percent chance that the La Niña phenomenon would develop from June to August.

“I am hoping that there will be rain, but no typhoons,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.

In Zamboanga peninsula, President Marcos yesterday distributed P58.9 million in financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by El Niño.

The President also distributed fuel subsidy, farming inputs as well as funds to rehabilitate and install solar-powered irrigation systems, among other related programs.

The cash assistance came from the Socio-Civic Projects Fund, formerly known as the President’s Social Fund.

Zamboanga del Norte received P14.26 million; Zamboanga del Sur, P14.3 million; Zamboanga Sibugay, P20.3 million, and Zamboanga City, P10 million.

“President Marcos has repeatedly mentioned (the need) to focus on affected farmers, fisherfolk and their families because... they are the frontliners of our food security,” Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama, spokesman for Task Force El Niño, said. -  Alexis Romero