ILOILO CITY — The province of Capiz is under a state of calamity due to the El Niño climate phenomenon.
Capiz was the third provincial government in Western Visayas to make the declaration.
The Capiz Provincial Board approved the recommendation of the Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to declare a state of calamity.
Five local government units in the province, Dumarao, Maayon, Panay, Pontevedra, and Tapaz, had earlier declared a state of calamity.
With the declaration, the administration of Gov. Fredenil “Oto” Castro will be able to utilize the Quick Response Fund (QRF) for those affected by the El Niño.
The Capiz Provincial Agriculture Office said El Niño has caused P379-million worth of damage to the agriculture sector. It affected 6,403 hectares and 7,930 farmers.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Capiz said damage to aqua-fisheries sector reached approximately P22.7 million -- 600 hectares of fishponds, 579 hectares of fresh water, and 52 hectares of brackish water production.