ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The Iloilo Provincial Board on Friday declared the province of Iloilo under a state of calamity.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, according to a PNA report, earlier endorsed the declaration as tropical depression Quinta already affected 23 municipalities and 222 barangays.
About 25,080 families composed of 121,260 individuals were also affected by the tropical depression
The figures are more than the 20 percent of the total population added to the severe destruction of livelihood and agriculture in the province as requirements to merit the declaration.
In a special session Friday afternoon seven members voted in favor of the declaration of state of calamity while three expressed their opposition.
The declaration of the state of calamity allows the provincial government and affected local government units to utilize their five percent calamity fund.
Prior the municipalities of Janiuay, Calinog, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, San Enrique and city of Passi were already placed under state of calamity by their respective local councils. — (FREEMAN)