Zamboanga City under state of calamity due to El Niño

Zamboanga City has been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of El Niño.

The city council made the declaration after a meeting on Tuesday, based on the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

The declaration would allow the city government to release its calamity fund to mitigate the effects of El Niño.

CDRRMC chief Elmier Apolinario said that the El Niño phenomenon's estimated damage to agriculture in the city was already at P10.8 million.

Apolinario said that the El Niño has affected 587 hectares of farmland in the city.

The city council also declared a state of calamity in April 2015 due to dry spell. —report from Jayvee Francisco/ALG, GMA News