Damage caused by dry spell in Cebu now at P43.97M

Cebu City, Philippines – The El Niño has already damaged P43.970 million worth of crops and livestock in Cebu Province, the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported.

Rhee Telen, local DRRM officer II, said that Compostela town recorded the highest damage in crops, affecting around 112.1 hectares of farmlands from seven barangays.

Compostela has recorded P13,040,075 worth of damaged assorted crops, which include vegetables, corn, banana, coconut, among others.

Othe local government units (LGUs) that reported damages on crops and livestock include the towns of Alcantara, Aloguinsan, Argao, Badian, Balamban, Bantayan, Consolacion, Cordova, Daanbantayan, Santander, Tudela, Compostela and Pilar and the City of Carcar.

P390,580 worth of farm animals have also died due to heat stroke while more than P30 million worth of guso, bangus, tilapia and other aquaculture animals were also damaged due to dry spell.

“Even last year, we’ve already distributed more than 500 water barrels to different LGUs as part of our preparation for the El Niño,” Telen said.

He added that they will also be allocating P8 million to purchase water barrels, hose, water pumps and among other that can be used by farmers in order for them to store water.

“We will also be allocating P10 million for the food for work program, in coordination with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO),” he added.

He revealed that some LGUs have already requested to be prioritized whenever these interventions are already made available.

Telen added that Talisay City has also declared a state of calamity yesterday.

Aside from Talisay City, the towns of Ginatilan, Minglanilla, Samboan, Sogod, Tudela, and Dumanjug and the cities of Carcar and Toledo have earlier declared a state of calamity. /bmjo