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Two cities, four towns eye states of calamity As El Niño damage rises to P30.5M in Negros
El Niño damage to crops and animals in Negros Occidental yesterday reached P30,586,243 with two cities and four towns proposing to declare states of calamities.
Murcia town had earlier declared a state of calamity, while proposing to take similar actions are Sipalay and Kabankalan cities, and Hinoba-an, Isabela, La Castellana and Don Salvador Benedicto towns, Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan said.
Damage to rainfed rice, corn and vegetables on 1,870.39 hectares in 10 towns and 5 cities in Negros Occidental has reached P27,540,363, he said.
Crop damage has been reported in:
- San Carlos City – P7,847,625,
- Hinoba-an – P4,776,915,
- Calatrava – P4,766,528,
- Hinigaran – P3,163,580,
- Toboso – P1,986,600,
- Murcia – P1,472,555.60,
- Cauayan – P836,520,
- Sipalay City – P576,885,
- Binalbagan – P345,000,
- Himamaylan City – P648,475,
- Isabela – P420,000,
- Bacolod City – P226,800,
- Kabankalan City – P162,000,
- Ilog – P166,880,
- and La Castellana – P144,000.
Meanwhile, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena yesterday reported that farm animal deaths and damage to pasture lands has reached P3,045,880 in 9 cities and 13 towns.
Decena said damage in Kabankalan City was P539,200, Manapla – P344,750, Murcia – P281,800, Hinoba-an – P253,500, Himamaylan City – P248,900, Cadiz City - P177,000, Silay City – P122,960, Candoni – P115,650, Sipalay City – P100,000, La Castellana – P93,530, Victorias City – P81,000, Hinigaran – P55,200, Pulupandan – P51,600, E.B. Magalona – P50,000, Binalbagan – P36,900, Calatrava – P36,000, Toboso – P33,000, Moises Padilla – P24,800, Sagay City – P16,800, Ilog – P 16,200, Bago City – P8,000, and San Carlos City – P7,000.
Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday convened the Negros Occidental El Niño/La Niña Phenomenon Task Force and discussed moves to combat the adverse effects of the dry spell.
The task force created through Executive Order 10-003 Series of 2010 has Zayco as chairman, Vice Gov. Emilio Yulo as vice chairman, Tabianan as action officer, and the heads of the Provincial Environment Management Office, Provincial Disaster Management Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Health Office, Provincial Information Office, SP Committees on Finance and Agriculture as members of the task force.
Tabianan said the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist is stepping up its efforts to help the farmers through cloud seeding operations and by providing them alternative livelihood programs. There is a need to conduct massive and intensive information advocacy on measures to mitigate the harmful effects of the El Niño phenomenon, he said.
At the task force meeting, Samson Garzon of OPA presented the El Niño Action Plan, aimed at helping farmers protect the areas that were already planted from the adverse effect brought by the water shortage and are in a critical stages of crop growth;
Reduce the possible production and yield losses from moisture stress and pests infestations that may occur from this climatic aberration; assist farmers to engage in alternative livelihood; enable farmers to immediately plant as the effects of the El Niño weakens and the onset of the rainy season becomes definite;
Jump start the 2010 implementation of irrigation and farm-to-market roads projects to create job opportunities for farmers who were not able to plant; and provide direct food assistance in farming communities and households.
PAGASA Advisory No. 6 states that El Niño is expected to last until June.
*CPG
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