CEBU CITY – The province of Cebu will be placed under a state of calamity due to the devastation caused by the extremely high heat index.
Gov. Gwen Garcia on Friday, May 17, announced that she will issue an executive order for the formal declaration of the state of calamity.
GARCIA (FB)
“This will be further supported by a board resolution that will be passed when the Provincial Board meets this Monday (May 20),” Garcia said in a press conference.
While the province will be placed under a state of calamity, the provincial government will not be giving dole outs. Instead, the province will look for ways to give the Cebuanos opportunities to survive the drought.
“We will further discuss this to address this matter,” said Garcia.
According to Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena, the agricultural damage in the province caused by the El Niño phenomenon has already reached P176.8 million.
Saragena said that as of May 16, 12,312 farmers and fishermen in the province have been affected by the drought.
Partial report coming from 32 local agriculturist's offices showed that the drought has already affected 3,179.32 hectares of land.
Garcia said affected farmers will receive assistance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).
She said the province is also looking for ways to address water shortage.
The governor said that there is a “shortfall” of 60,000 cubic meters in Metro Cebu after the Mananga and Lusaran Rivers which are the source of water by Metro Cebu Water District have dried up. To help address the water shortage, the province has issued special permits to six contractors to desilt the Mananga River.