Agri damage hits P770M in Region 6

ILOILO CITY: The effects of the El Niño phenomenon have caused over P770 million in damages and losses to the farming and fishing industry in Western Visayas.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported that as of April 4, Iloilo province bore the brunt of the damage, recording agricultural losses amounting to P519 million, followed by Antique with P130 million.

Negros Occidental reported an agricultural damage of P78 million, Aklan with P30 million, and Capiz with P12 million.

The RDRRMC also said that 1,276 hectares of croplands were totally damaged, while an additional 14,306 hectares incurred partial damage, significantly impacting the livelihoods of 20,610 farmers and fisherfolk across the region.

The Department of Social

Welfare and Development, as of March 22, has released P1.6 million or 2,959 food packs to affected families in Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, the local government of Sibalom placed the town under a state of calamity on March 13, citing substantial losses in key crops like corn and rice, as well as the scarcity of water in various villages.

The Sibalom agriculture office reported losses amounting to P35 million in rice and P242,382 in corn, alongside reports of water shortages in eight villages.

The Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has also confirmed that the town of Anini-y is also being eyed for a declaration of a state of calamity.

Similarly, in Iloilo, the same declaration is also being considered for four towns, namely Carles, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, and Anilao.