ILOILO CITY – The province of Antique is under a state of calamity due to the El Niño climate phenomenon.
The Antique Provincial Board passed Resolution No. 2024-251 in a special session on Thursday, April 18, formalizing the recommendation of the Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
The state of calamity enables the administration of Gov. Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao to utilize the Quick Response Fund (QRF) to hasten the delivery of assistance “in order to promptly reduce the adverse effects on the Antiqueños’ welfare, livelihood, and economy.”
The local government units (LGUs) of Sibalom, Anini-y, and Laua-an have earlier declared states of calamities on the municipal level.
There are 281 barangays across Antique affected by drought as of April 15.
Damage to agriculture and fisheries was placed at around P213.5 million.
The Antique PDRRMC is expecting more LGUs to have their own municipal state of calamity declaration.