• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod City is under a state of calamity, per declaration from the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Aug. 5, due to the severe agricultural and economic crisis brought about by the rapid spread of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) infestation.
The formal declaration of a state of calamity in the highly-urbanized city followed an urgent letter-request from Mayor Greg Gasataya Aug. 4, who said the infestation has compromised 2,000 hectares out of the 3,056 hectares planted to sugarcane, or a 65.45 percent damage.
City agriculturist Maricar Quiro certified that total damage caused by the infestation was estimated at P200 million, as of Aug. 4.
“An estimated 350 sugarcane farmers and 2,000 farm workers, with total farm area of around 2,000 hectares…are affected by the RSSI infestation,” she added.
Gasataya noted “widespread destruction of agricultural crops” that far exceeds the minimum condition or criteria in declaring a city under a state of calamity.
Under Memorandum Order 60, series of 2019, of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, a city could be declared under a state of calamity if the damage is at least 30 percent.
“Passing this declaration is absolutely vital, as it will empower the city government to utilize our Quick Response Fund (QRF),” Gasataya told the SP. “Unlocking these funds will allow us to immediately deploy urgent agricultural interventions, provide financial and material relief, and initiate recovery programs to normalize the living conditions of our stricken agricultural sector as quickly as possible.” | CGC
