Negros Occidental declares state of calamity over floods, pest outbreak

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – The provincial government of Negros Occidental has declared a state of calamity due to recent flooding in its southern areas and an ongoing infestation of red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) affecting sugarcane farms, officials said on Friday, July 25.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson’s office announced the declaration following the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s approval of Resolution No. 0771-25 on Thursday, July 24, placing all 32 towns and cities in the province under the calamity status.

Provincial Board Member Genaro Alvarez IV, who authored the resolution, said the province is facing both a natural and biological calamity.

“It is but natural that the entire province be placed under a state of calamity while reeling from both natural and biological calamities,” he said.

Alvarez said the twin crises are threatening food security, employment, and the province’s economic stability.

With the declaration, the provincial government and local governments can now access their Quick Response Fund, or 30% of their annual disaster budgets, to finance emergency relief and recovery operations.

Flooding from July 17 to 20 killed six people and displaced over 22,000 residents in 18 towns and cities in southern Negros Occidental, according to the capitol and the Department of Agriculture in Negros Island Region (DA-NIR).

Crop and livestock losses due to the floods alone were estimated at P44.5 million.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the fatalities included two each in Binalbagan and Hinoba-an, and one each in Sagay City and Himamaylan City.

Meanwhile, the Sugar Regulatory Administration reported that RSSI infestations have affected 2,876 hectares of sugarcane farms across 21 towns and cities in the NIR, impacting 1,574 planters. Estimated losses have reached at least P350 million. – Rappler.com