Zamboanga del Norte placed under state of calamity due to El Niño

The local government of Zamboanga Del Norte placed the whole province under a state of calamity due to the worsening effects of El Niño on agriculture, a report on Unang Balita on Monday said.

According to the Zamboanga Del Norte provincial office of agriculture, the damage to crops has already reached P162,401,155.

Recorded damage to rice crops reached P92,892,655 while damage to corn reached P69,508.500.

The ongoing El Niño crisis has affected 5,642 hectares of farmlands in 10 municipalities including Sergio Osmena, Sibutad, Piñan, Labason, Gutalac, Godod, Sindagan, Manukan, Kalawit at Rizal. 

Based on data from the Department of Agriculture, a total of 5,778 farmers in the said municipalities have been suffering due to drought. 

Early this month, seven other provinces have already been placed under a state of calamity—Davao Del Sur, Cotabato, Maguindanao, Basilan, Isabela, Quirino, and Bukidnon. 

Puerto Princesa City in Palawan was likewise placed under a state of calamity last week. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/KG, GMA News