'State of calamity' eyed in 4 Misamis Oriental towns

THE Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) of Misamis Oriental has alerted that four towns in the province are likely to declare a "state of calamity" as the dry spell continued to damage their crops.

Provincial Agriculturist Apollo Pacamalan said the municipalities of Libertad, Laguindingan, Alubijid and Opol might push for the declaration of a state of calamity to access their calamity funds.

He said when two or more towns would declare a state of calamity, the Provincial Board may also recommend the declaration so more funds will be readily available for the affected farmers.

"We are gathering data from every municipality so that we can advise them kung mag-declare ba sila or dili (whether they will declare or not)," Pacamalan said.

"When these towns declare magpatawag na sad mi nila para ma-present ang data (we will call for them so that they can present the data), kay kita man mag-provide sa data nga maoy himoon basihan sa declaration sa (because they will provide the data that we are going to make as a basis in the declaration of the) state of calamity," he added.

As of Wednesday, March 27, the damage to corn and rice fields across the province because of the mild El Niño has reached around P40 million.

Pacamalan said between 700 to 800 hectares have been affected by the dry spell.

The provincial agriculture office is still collating data to determine the number of affected households.

Pacamalan said some 20 hand pumps are now ready for distribution to the western part of the province.

"We just have to identify kinsa tong (which are badly) pinaka-badly hit para (so) we can get the surface water kung naa pa area nga naay tabangonon nga hapit na mo-harvest og crops (if there are still crops that can be salvaged for harvesting)," Pacamalan said.

He also said that his office proposed to the provincial government the procurement of additional planting materials and seeds in order to help affected farmers cope with the impact of the dry spell.

Provincial Board member President Elipe, who chairs the committee on agriculture, said they would wait for the final report and recommendation from the executive branch before discussing the issue in the plenary.

But he said they would support the declaration so necessary assistance would be given to the farmers.

"Maghulat mi sa report sa PDRRMO kay they know better kaning mga technical teams and recommendation sa executive branch kay maapil na dayon diha unsa ang ayuda nga ihatag (we will wait for the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office because they know better when it comes to these technical terms, and recommendation to the executive branch because it will then include the needed aid to be given)," Elipe said.

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