Negros town under state of calamity

STA. CATALINA, Negros Oriental has been put under state of calamity following the adverse effect of El Niño phenomenon on crops in the area.

According to the Municipal Agriculture Office, farmlands have cracked due to drought, making it inhabitable for crops such as corn and rice.

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Local officials declared the state of calamity after the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC) meeting recently along with captains of 24 barangays, said Councilor Peve Ligan in a statement.

One animal has been reported dead in Barangay San Miguel, according to Ligan.

A farmer in Barangay Obat also died due to heat stroke.

The authorities are still waiting for further data on the actual amount of damage caused by the dry spell.

Provincial Agriculture Officer Greg Paltinca added that the broken irrigation dam in the area aggravated the problem.

He however clarified that the dry weather in Negros Oriental is a natural occurrence during the summer months and is still not as worse as what other areas are experiencing.

The declaration of a state of calamity also poses a warning that the dry spell may worsen in the coming weeks, said Paltinca.

To cope with the crisis, he said he has asked the province to allot P1 million worth of assistance for farmers to be used in purchasing seeds such as rice and corn.

The province is also availing the Ginintuang Masaganing Ani (GMA) program of the government to acquire corn seeds for the farmers. (Angela Casauay/Sunnex)