BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Four local government units in Negros Occidental declared their areas under a state of calamity, citing the damage caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon.
The municipality of Valladolid joined San Enrique and Hinigaran towns and La Carlota city in declaring a state of calamity as recommended by their disaster risk reduction and management councils.
Based on the report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the damage to the agriculture sector, including livestock and fisheries, reached P149.738 million in Negros Occidental.
Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer, pegged the damage on agricultural crops at P146.184 million, P1.781 million in fisheries and P1.772 million in livestock as of Sept. 20.
Ploteña also reported that 203,091 persons in 259 barangays were affected by the inclement weather.