THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday placed the cost of damage to agriculture of the El Niño phenomenon at P9.46 billion covering 13 of the country’s 17 regions.
El Niño is a weather phenomenon that increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions that may lead to dry spells and droughts.
In a situation report, the NDRRMC placed the cost of damage to agriculture at P9.46 billion in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen and CAR.
Mimaropa, Cagayan Valley and Western Visayas were listed as the top three regions that recorded the highest cost of damage to agriculture, with P2.61 billion, P2.06 billion, and P1.71 billion, respectively.
The NDRRMC also said the El Niño has hit the income capacities of 175,063 farmers and fisherfolks, damaging 163,709.49 hectares of crops.
At the same time, the NDRRMC said 429 cities and municipalities in 11 of the country’s 17 regions are under a state of calamity due to El Niño.
It said 126 of these cities municipalities are in Central Visayas, while 119 are in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Also under a state of calamity are 71 cities and municipalities in Western Visayas, 40 in Cagayan Valley, 32 in Soccsksargen, 21 in Mimaropa, 10 in Northern Mindanao, three each in Ilocos region and Zamboanga Peninsula, and two each in Eastern Visayas and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
The Council also reported that nearly 4.5 million individuals in 13 regions have been displaced by the phenomenon.
It said 1,153,147 families or 4,428,621 individuals have been affected in 5,386 barangays in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, BARRM, and CAR.
There are no affected population reported in the four remaining regions of the country, namely National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the Bicol region.
The NDRRMC report showed the three regions with the most number of affected population are Western Visayas (453,651 families or 1,700,879), Soccsksargen (200,317 families or 751,769 individuals), and BARMM (126,368 families or 623,231 individuals).
It said P1.13 billion in assistance have been provided in Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, and Soccsksargen.
Last March, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that while El Niño is already weakening, its effect will persist until this month.
PAGASA said La Niña, a climate pattern that characterizes above average rains, may follow the El Niño period and start in the June-July-August season.
