• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Ensuring availability of funds for the looming La Niña phenomenon, Mayor John Rey Tabujara yesterday ruled out the declaration of a state of calamity amid the damage caused by drought to crops in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
Tabujara said that they have available funds to extend assistance to residents affected by the El Niño, which they already started to distribute on top of the food assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In a meeting with the members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Tabujara said they need to prepare for the La Niña that is expected to bring typhoons, recalling that Cauayan was hit twice by floods in recent years.
“If we use the calamity fund now, we may find it difficult to mobilize funds when the typhoon comes. We want to ensure that available funds are stable,” the mayor said.
Tabujara reported that they have already distributed more than 600 food packs to drought-affected residents along with the DSWD, and will also give out 1,000 more food packs soon.
He added that they have enough reserve fund for the drought- affected residents.
A report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist showed that Cauayan is the hardest-hit local government unit in Negros Occidental, with damage to crops pegged at more than P66 million, affecting 1,130 farmers tilling 562.48 hectares.
Most of the affected farmers don’t own the farmlands, but are the ones working in the fields, Tabujara said.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is also set to distribute financial assistance of P2,000 each to drought-affected farmers in the province. | GB
