By Noel Punzalan/PNA
KIDAPAWAN CITY – The local government is poised to place the entire city in a state of calamity due to the prevailing effects of the drought-spawned El Niño weather phenomenon.
This, after the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) recommended the move to pave the way for Mayor Joseph Evangelista to use the Quick Response Fund to provide immediate relief assistance to families adversely affected by the dry spell.
CDRRMC officer Psalmer Bernalte said the council’s decision to recommend the state of calamity declaration will be forwarded to Vice Mayor Bernardo Pinol Jr. for corresponding action by the Sangguniang Bayan.
At least three agricultural villages here have already placed their communities under a state of calamity due to the effect of the dry spell on their farmlands.
These affected barangays are Macebolig, Malinan, and Patadon,” Bernalte told reporters here Tuesday.
CDRRMC estimated the damage to crops at more than PHP53 million as of early this week.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office said it is already preparing relief assistance to the affected families, while rice and corn seedlings will be distributed by the city agriculture office to farmers.
Bernalte said the CDRRMC is hoping the city council could come up with the declaration within the week.
