• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Negros Oriental has recommended placing the province under a state of calamity as the damage to crops and livestock due to drought has increased to more than P115 million as of April 19.
This is based on the report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist during the recent PDRRMC meeting in Dumaguete City.
Earlier, the municipality of Santa Catalina and Bayawan City placed their respective local government units (LGUs) under a state of calamity due to El Niño phenomenon.
PDRRM officer Adrian Sedillo said in an interview that under the law, if two or more LGUs are placed under a state of calamity, the province is qualified to also declare a state of calamity to utilize the quick response fund (QRF) for the provision of assistance to the affected farmers or population.
Sedillo, however, said that Negros Oriental should meet the criteria of 15 percent of the population and 30 percent of livelihood and structure affected to be placed under a state of calamity.
In Negros Occidental, the municipality of San Enrique and component city of Kabankalan also placed their respective areas under a state of calamity.
However, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is not keen yet on placing the province under a state of calamity, stressing that the provincial government still has funds to help the affected farmers.
As of April 25, damage to rice and corn crops in Negros Occidental has been pegged at P197.153 million.
In a report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the drought has affected 5,125 farmers tilling 3,752.94 hectares of crops in 195 barangays of 25 towns and cities in Negros Occidental.
However, the OPA report does not include the damage to sugarcane, which is being assessed by the Sugar Regulatory Administration.
Damage to rice is at P192.209 million while corn has reported damage of P4.944 million.
Cauayan continues to suffer the highest crop damage at P66.139 million. | GB
