Drought destroys P535.6 million crops, livestock in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Phailippines — As another local government unit (LGU) was placed under a state of calamity due to drought, the amount of damage to rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and fishery in Negros Occidental has reached P535.6 million.

Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles yesterday confirmed that his town is now under a state of calamity due to El Niño, with all its 16 barangays affected.

Earlier, the cities of San Carlos and Kabankalan, and the municipality of San Enrique declared a state of calamity due to the hot weather.

The declaration authorizes LGUs to release funds for the rehabilitation of their areas.

Except for San Carlos, the Department of Trade and Industry imposed a 60-day price freeze on basic commodities in Valladolid, San Enrique and Kabankalan.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported that damage to rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock and fishery has reached P535.6 million.

Provincial agriculturist Dina Genzola said the amount of damage to rice and corn reached P298 million and P8 million, respectively, and to high-value crops, P8.58 million.