ILOILO CITY — The province of Iloilo is now under a state of calamity due to the El Niño climate phenomenon.

A FARMER tends to his farm in Tubungan town, Iloilo province affected by the El Niño climate phenomenon. (Tara Yap)
The Iloilo Provincial Board approved the recommendation of the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council during its session on Tuesday, May 14.
Iloilo PDRRMC data said damage caused by El Niño to the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the 42 towns and the component city of Passi has ballooned to more than P1 billion.
Rice production sustained the biggest losses at more than P653 million while corn production suffered damages of P219 million.
There was also a P136-million damage to high-valued crops; P16 million to fisheries production, and almost P200,000 to livestock and poultry production.
With the state of calamity declaration, the administration of Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. can now utilize the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of P61 million.
The local government units (LGUs) of the towns of Sara, Estancia, Bingawan, Balasan, Dingle, Lemery, San Dionisio, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, and Mina as well as Passi City had earlier declared state of calamities.