South Cotabato under state of calamity due to El Niño

The province of South Cotabato has been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon.

South Cotabato’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the declaration as drought hit the province, particularly in the towns of Banga, Norala, Surallah, Tantangan, and Tboli.

Preliminary reports from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office-South Cotabato show El Niño has already caused P201.9 million worth of damage to crops, livestock, and infrastructure.

“These towns have been particularly hard-hit, prompting their declaration of a state of calamity,” an advisory from the provincial government read.

Earlier, the local government of Surallah town in South Cotabato declared a state of calamity due to the adverse effects of El Niño.

The Office of the Municipal Agriculturist in Surallah said that almost 1,000 hectares of farmland and fish ponds were drying up as of March 31.

Damage to agriculture had been pegged at almost P71 million at the time.

Areas under a state of calamity are authorized to use their respective calamity fund allocations.

On Wednesday, the government's Task Force El Niño said at least 103 cities and municipalities across the country have been affected by El Niño. — VBL, GMA Integrated News