By Leah Agonoy
March 12, 2019, 5:50 pm
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur -- The City Council
here declared the city under a state of calamity Tuesday following the
estimated PHP102 million damages on agricultural products brought by the dry
spell.
City
Agriculturist Annie Tenorio said the drought has affected more than a thousand
farmers from the city's 40 barangays.
Tenorio
said damages in rice reached PHP9.3 million from the 18 barangays while corn
damages reached PHP69.6 million from the eight barangays.
Tenorio
said corn incurred the most severe damage as the drought transpired during the
maturity stage of the crops, while the planting season for it is just about to
start.
Tenorio
said they quantified the opportunity loss of farmers or the supposed average of
harvest for the season.
She
said the other barangays also suffered damages on high-value commercial crops
and seaweeds costing PHP23.4 million, with big losses in almost all their
standing crops as irrigation waters fell below the ideal amount.
Dr.
Leonora Sulay, city veterinarian, also declared damages on livestock products
in the different barangays stating the need of farmers for assistance as they
could no longer afford for the feeds since they have no income due to damages
in their farmlands.
The
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) in their
resolution suggested the need for assistance to farmers through a possible
cash-for-work program allocating funds from the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for
their daily needs especially after Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared the drought is expected
until June, this year.
In the
entire province, Engr. Francisco Maca, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management action officer, said the local DRRMOs in the municipalities were
still conducting assessments on the damages caused by the dry season.
Maca
said Dimataling town was the first to declare a state of calamity last week.
(PNA)
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