Dealing with El Niño

CEBU’S PROVINCIAL Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is set to present before the provincial board on Monday the damage assessment and impact on farmers of the prevailing dry spell due to El Niño after recommending last March 21 the declaration of a state of calamity. The board will have to give its approval for the declaration, which would allow the use of emergency funds to assist affected farmers. PDRRMO chief Baltazar S. Tribunalo, Jr. Tribunalo, in a statement from the provincial information office, said among the priority areas for assistance are Argao and Dalaguete towns. The provincial government has allotted at least P89 million as Quick Respond Fund (QRF) this year to address the effects of the El Niño. He said both crop and fish farmers have reported losses as well as seaweed growers. Last Feb. 28, the PDRRMC Council approved PDRRMO’s recommendation to place the province under a state of preparedness to brace for the impact of the prolonged dry spell. Mr. Tribunalo among the mitigation mechanisms they have initiated include the installation of water tanks and the use of delivery trucks to provide water rations to priority areas.

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