San Carlos City in Negros Occidental is now under a state of calamity.
The San Carlos Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) headed by Mayor Renato Gustilo on Monday, Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, said Wednesday, May 8.
The CDRRMC unanimously approved a resolution on Monday recommending the SP declaration of a state of calamity because of the “devastating and widespread impacts of the drought” brought on by the El Niño phenomenon on San Carlos City.
The City Agriculture Office reported that the drought damage to crops in San Carlos has hit P17,681,328.50 affecting 518 farmers tilling 375.72 hectares of agricultural land, the resolution said.
“In order to hasten the coordination and mobilization of resources aimed at prioritizing immediate response and early recovery efforts to the affected populace, the CDRRMC necessitates the declaration of a state of calamity”, it said.
San Enrique town and Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental also declared states of calamity earlier.*