THE Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has passed a resolution recommending the declaration of a state of calamity in Antique after Tropical Storm Crising and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon caused widespread damage.
Governor Paolo Javier, who chairs the council, presided over the meeting on July 24, 2025 at the PDRRM Office in Binirayan Hills, San Jose de Buenavista. Representatives from national and provincial agencies were present.
Three municipalities, Barbaza, Sebaste, and Culasi, had earlier declared a state of calamity.
“I would like to talk to my secretary to send a message to the SPS (Sangguniang Panlalawigan) urgent matter to declare province-wide state of calamity,” said Javier.
The PDRRMC approved Resolution No. 07, Series of 2025, which recommends that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan formally declare the province under a state of calamity.
The declaration will allow the provincial government to access its Quick Response Fund (QRF), which totals P35,068,747, to support response, recovery, and reconstruction efforts.
Under the law, at least two towns must declare before a province-wide declaration can be considered.
"By law, a province needs at least two towns to declare a state of calamity before it can be declared at the provincial level," Javie said.
According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), 22,729 families or 73,706 individuals from 15 towns have been affected by the storm. Four people remain missing, but no fatalities have been recorded.
The damage to lifeline infrastructure, including bridges, roads, seawalls, flood control systems, hospitals, and schools, was estimated at over P610 million. Additionally, 190 houses were damaged, with 51 of them totally destroyed.
Flooding and heavy rains also caused P15.36 million in damage to rice, corn, livestock, poultry, aquaculture, marine culture, and capture fisheries.
Damage assessments are ongoing. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has yet to complete its evaluation of the Bacong River dike in Culasi, which sustained damage last week. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)