State of calamity declared in Guimaras

ILOILO CITY—A state of calamity has been declared in the province of Guimaras as the El Niño phenomenon continues to wreak havoc on the province’s agriculture.

Guimaras Vice Gov. Vicente de Asis said the provincial board issued the calamity declaration on March 2 based on a report of the provincial agriculture office and upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

De Asis said the declaration would allow the release of a portion of the province’s calamity funds to victims of the drought.
As of last week, officials in the province estimated the damage to crops at P90 million.

The total area of farms damaged by the dry spell reached 2,721 hectares, or 60.84 percent of all rice lands in the province.

The dry spell also damaged 409 ha of lands planted with banana, calamansi, corn, sweet potato and other crops.

She said the provincial disaster management office has recommended the release of an initial P2 million for 2,540 farmers affected by the dry spell.

The fund will be used to purchase water containers for storing water and for use in a cash for work program.