Authorities mulling state of calamity in Koronadal City

KORONADAL CITY (PNA) – The city government is studying the possibility of declaring a state of calamity here due to the effects of the El Niño-spawned dry spell that already destroyed some 32.78 million worth agricultural crops.

Cyrus Urbano, acting head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said they are currently conducting a comprehensive assessment of the damages wrought by the dry spell within the city’s 27 barangays for a possible calamity declaration.

He said three barangays – Esperanza, Magsaysay and Cacub - have already declared a state of calamity due to the impact of the intense dry weather.

A report released by the CDRRMO showed that some 159.25 hectares planted to corn and palay crops worth 1.59 million have been devastated in Barangay Esperanza, and with around 200 farmers directly affected.

Barangay Magsaysay recorded a damaged area of 176.5 hectares with a total value of 1.76 million and some 273 farmers affected.

In Barangay Cacub, around 85 hectares of various crops worth 850,000 have been destroyed.

Emelita Miguel, City Agriculture Office head, said their latest assessment showed that the a total of 3,278.72 hectares in 25 barangays in the city have been affected by the drought.

She said these covered 2,169.87 hectares of palay, 821.14 hectares of corn, 137.28 hectares of high value crops, 103.18 hectares of vegetables and 47.25 hectares of root crops.