AT LEAST 100 CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES AFFECTED BY EL NIñO — TASK FORCE

At least 100 Philippine cities and municipalities have been affected by the El Niño phenomenon, according to the government's Task Force El Niño.

''Base sa tala ng OCD, nasa 103 cities and municipalities, kasama sa bilang na ito ang limang probinsiya, nandiyan 'yung Occidental Mindoro na pinuntahan ng Pangulo kahapon, Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan at Maguindanao del Sur,'' task force spokesman Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview.

[Based on the OCD tally, there are 103 cities and municipalities, five provinces including Occidental Mindoro which was visited by the President yesterday and Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan and Maguindanao del Sur.]

Villarama further reiterated that the damage brought by the phenomenon in the agriculture sector had already reached P3.94 billion.

''Sa huling datos na galing sa Department of Agriculture, nasa 3.94 billion na po ang danyos sa agrikultura, that's equivalent to about 66,000 hectares pero I would like to emphasize na 78% noong 66,000 hectares na 'yun, may chance of recovery or salvageable pa,'' he said.

[Based on the latest data from the Department of Agriculture, damage is recorded at P3.94 billion which is equivalent to 66,000 hectares but I would like to emphasize that of those affected hectares, 78 percent has a chance of recovery.]

He assured the public that the government is ready to provide assistance to the affected families, including cash transfers.

Villarama also said that the effects of El Niño could be less by the end of May.

''By May, end of May, we hope that magdidissipate o magiging less na po ang impact po ng El Niño sa ating bansa,'' Villarama said.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture said it provided hybrid rice seeds worth P7.87 million and fertilizers worth P7.63 million to non-vulnerable areas in Western Visayas; rice and corn seeds worth P3.51 million in Ilocos Region to maximize production and compensate for incurred losses; and drugs, biologics, and high-density polyethylene hoses worth P840,000 million in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

For financial and livelihood assistance, the DA said it has provided a total of 60,013 native animals to 334 groups and 534 individual farmers nationwide through its Philippine Native Animal Development Program. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

This article At least 100 cities, municipalities affected by El Niño — task force was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-04-24T07:04:33Z dg43tfdfdgfd