Cebu City disaster council to recommend state of calamity

CEBU CITY — The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) is set to recommend the declaration of a state of calamity as damage to crops in 28 of the city’s 80 barangays has reached almost PHP15 million due to the mild El Niño.

City agricultural technologist Warwin Anadia told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday that the CDRRMC will recommend the declaration because the dry spell has already destroyed 87.6 hectares of farmlands and 10,000 pots of ornamental plants, estimated to cost PHP14,917,705.

Anadia said the CDRRMC will meet on Wednesday to prepare the resolution recommending a state of calamity which will then be submitted to the Cebu City Council later this week.

“Under a state of calamity, the City will be able to release the PHP15 million from its disaster funds to address the problems of the now 317 farmers affected by the El Niño,” Anadia said.

On March 20, the city declared a state of preparedness and initially released PHP12 million for the purchase of hoses, pumps, and containers to be distributed to the affected mountain barangays.

Farms of vegetable products, rice, sweet corn, and flowers in the upland villages have been affected due to lack of water supply.
Due to the hot weather phenomenon, Anadia said two hectares of string beans and two hectares of rice have been totally damaged in Barangays Adlaon and Cambinocot, respectively.

Other barangays affected are Agsungot, Babag, Bonbon, Buot, Buhisan, Busay, Budlaan, Binaliw, Guba, Kalunasan, Lusaran, Mabini, Malubog, Pamutan, Paril, Pulangbato, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sapangdaku, Sirao, Sinsin, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Tagbao, Taptap, Tabunan, and Toong.

Last March 25, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) declared a state of calamity in the entire province after more than half of Cebu’s municipalities have been affected by the weak El Niño.

The resolution was filed by PB Member Thadeo Jovito Ouano upon the recommendation of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and was approved by the Board en masse.