The local government unit (LGU) of Pio Duran is set to declare a state of calamity in response to the devastating effects of El Niño in the agricultural sector, particularly on the local farmers within the municipality.
According to the data presented by the municipal agriculture office, out of 1300.11 hectares of affected agricultural land, an alarming 1232.14 hectares have suffered severe damage due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon.
The damages inflicted by the scorching heat in town have reached a total amount of P83,785,520 million, posing a threat to the livelihood of at least 1,565 farmers who need urgent intervention due to the crisis triggered by the dry spell.
Gina Peralta-Elorde, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, said in a phone call interview that out of 33 barangays in the town, 28 are affected, which then prompted them to declare a state of calamity.
“Eighty percent ng aming mga farmers ay nabiktima ng El Niño. Nagkandasira-sira mga pananim nila, hindi napakinabangan. So, kawawa ’yong mga farmers, and then para kami makapag access ng fund [to help them], ‘yon ang kailangan ng Pagasa, the resolution,” Elorde explained, stressing the necessity of the resolution for them to provide aid for the affected farmers.
Noel Ordoña, head of the municipal disaster risk reduction management office (MDRRMO), highlighted the necessity of the declaration.
“We cannot utilize the 30 percent calamity fund without the declaration of the state of calamity. Para magamit natin ‘yong calamity fund, particularly ‘yong quick response fund, kailangan may declaration ng state of calamity,” Ordoña said.
It can be recalled that the municipal agriculture office of Pio Duran, Albay, initiated discussions regarding the declaration in collaboration with the Sangguniang Bayan and MDRRMO last week.
LGU Pio Duran still awaits the official pronouncement from the Pagasa in order to alleviate the crisis effectively. | Lyzha Mae Agnote