Capiz to be placed under state of calamity

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is being asked to place the entire province of Capiz under state of calamity after floods brought by typhoon “Agaton” pummeled its 16 towns and this capital city.

The provincial board will hold a special session today, April 18, 2022 to act on the request of Gov. Esteban Nonoy Contreras.

A resolution urging the provincial board to make the declaration was unanimously approved recently by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in a meeting with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) and the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO).

The PSWDO reported the number of individuals and families displaced by the floods while the PAO gave partial reports on damages to agricultural and fishery productions.

The PEO reported on damaged infrastructure projects such as bridges, overflows, provincial roads, among others.

Contreras is hoping the SP will act on his request as soon as possible so that immediate assistance would be extended.

A total of 3,971 farmers were affected in the provinces of Capiz (2,990), Iloilo (826) and Antique (155), data from the Department of Agriculture in Region 6 showed.

The agricultural losses were in rice, corn, high-value crops, aquaculture, poultry and livestock, among others.

Capiz, meanwhile, reported that 5,258.13 metric tons in agricultural products were lost in the towns of Panay, Panitan, Sigma, and Mambusao with a total value of P81,834,975.

Earlier, Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas thanked the Sangguniang Panlungsod for passing a resolution placing barangays Adlawan, Bago, Bato, Bolo, Lanot, Liong, Loctugan, Milibili and San Jose under a state of calamity because of “Agaton.”

About 34,674 persons from the 4,367 families were affected while 2 were confirmed dead.