• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The municipality of San Enrique in Negros Occidental is now under a state of calamity.
Mayor Jilson Tubillara confirmed the development on Monday (April 8) after the Municipal Council approved the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to declare a state of calamity during a special session.
Extreme heat due to El Niño phenomenon brought damage to crops and fisheries at P9.9 million, with 600 farmers and about 6,000 households affected.
San Enrique is among the rice-producing municipalities in Negros Occidental.
The municipal health unit is also facing shortage of medicines for cough and other related ailments such as hypertension due to severe heat, the mayor said, adding that there is also water rationing in some barangays.
“With the declaration of state of calamity, the Office of the Municipal Agriculture is now studying what form of assistance will be extended to the affected farmers, aside from financial aid,” he added.
Tubillara said that Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the province will also extend assistance to affected farmers in San Enrique.
Lacson earlier said that the provincial government will provide P2,000 financial aid to each of the affected farmers through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office. | GB
