By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Negros Occidental provincial government has no plans to declare the province under a “state of calamity,” as crop damage due to the El Niño phenomenon has already reached P55 million.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the declaration should be carefully studied.
Lacson believes that it is still too early to make a decision, as it will depend on how long the effects of the dry spell will last.
However, he emphasized that El Niño should not be underestimated, as it could cause significant damage to crops and farmers.
The latest data from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist as of February 26, showed that the damage brought by the ongoing drought has now reached P55.41 million.
A total of 79 villages across the province have been affected.
The damage to rice and corn crops is valued at P55.2 million and P157,000, respectively.
A total of 1,213 farmers and 1,064.14 hectares of crops have been affected.
Kabankalan City is now the hardest-hit local government unit with damages valued at P22.8 million.
It is followed by Cauayan town (P14 million), Ilog town (P7.4 million), Himamaylan City (P3.7 million), Hinigaran town (P1.7 million), Sipalay City (P1.6 million), Binalbagan town (P513,000), and Moises Padilla town (P450,000).
Meanwhile, Lacson said the provincial government has already identified farmers qualified to receive assistance.
He said they are coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to compile the list for verification.
The governor ensures that they will provide assistance to the best of their ability.
Lacson also revealed that the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas (DA-6) has not yet replied to their request for cloud seeding operations in the province’s 5th and 6th districts.
He stated that the provincial government has allocated a P400,000 budget for cloud seeding operations.
Earlier, Negros Occidental 5th District Representative Emilio Yulo III said he alerted DA-6 and the Sugar Regulatory Administration about cloud seeding operations in the district.
Yulo lamented the limitations of his office in providing assistance to every affected farmer, and reiterated the urgency for cloud seeding, as the dry spell worsens.
He also emphasized the need for national government intervention./DGB, WDJ