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Cotabato in state of calamity due to El Niño, rat infestation


KIDAPAWAN CITY — The provincial council has declared the province of Cotabato in a state of calamity due to the effects of El Niño and rat infestation on agriculture.

Cynthia Ortega, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO), reported at the council meeting last Tuesday that all the province's 17 towns and one city are suffering from severe temperatures that resulted in the wilting of crops.

Engineer Eliseo Mangliwan, the provincial agriculturist, pegged the damage to agriculture to at least P238, 017, 946. 35.

Mangliwan said that close to 30, 000 hecatres of wilting crops have been also attacked by rodents since the last quarter of 2015.

He breaks down the total damage as follows:

1.       Rice-P15, 039, 972.70
2.       Corn—P50, 043, 942.65
3.       Oil palm—P5, 982,912.00
4.       Coconut—P115, 693, 368.00
5.       Rubber—P48, 250, 935.00
6.       Cacao—P2, 293, 290.00
7.       Kape—P713, 496.00

Moreover, Mangliwan said the figures might increase as their office is still validating the reported effect of the El Niño phenomenon to vast areas of banana plantations in the province.

When a state of calamity is declared, a quick-response funds will be released for assistance to affected farmers.

At least P4 million of said funds will be used in the proposed cloud seeding operations this month.   — Williamor Magbanua/LBG, GMA News   

 

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