• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two local government units (LGUs) in Negros Island have placed their respective areas under a state of calamity due to the prevailing drought caused by El Niño phenomenon.
During its regular session on Thursday (April 18), the City Council of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental adopted the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to place the city under a state of calamity.
Based on the report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), damage to rice crops in 13 barangays of Kabankalan has been pegged at P41.9 million, affecting 1,214 farmers tilling 1,126 hectares of rice land.
Mayor Benjie Miranda said they are rationing potable water in almost all 32 barangays, especially in the hinterland areas.
Vice Mayor Miguel Zayco said that a manifestation was made during Thursday’s regular session to include sugarcane plantations under the state of calamity declaration.
Sugarcane fields are not listed in the crop damage report of the CDRRMC.
Last week, the municipality of San Enrique was also placed under a state of calamity.
The drought resulted to P184.764 million in total damage to rice and corn crops in Negros Occidental as of April 16, the OPA report further showed.
In Negros Oriental, the municipality of Santa Catalina was also placed under a state of calamity.
In a statement, the provincial government of Negros Oriental said that Santa Catalina, an agricultural site, has suffered a great deal of loss, in terms of their livelihood, and put its residents in jeopardy.
On April 17, the OPA turned over a tractor as well as a rice and corn harvester to the municipality, which was also assured of another tractor and financial assistance for the affected farmers.
According to the Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas, the drought in Negros Occidental is expected to become full blown before May.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, however, said he is not inclined to recommend placing the province under a state of calamity since they still have funds of P8 million to P10 million to be used to help drought- affected farmers. | GB
