Iloilo allocates P110M for El Niño response

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Iloilo provincial government announced Thursday that it has allocated P110.78 million to tackle the ongoing water shortage caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

The funding decision comes over a week after the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDDRMC) recommended declaring a state of calamity.

PDDRMC Resolution No. 06 series of 2024, dated April 29, outlines that the allocated funds will support various sectors including agriculture (P62.78 million), environment (P35 million), veterinary services (P3 million), and health (P10 million).

The agricultural response features several initiatives: P12.78 million is earmarked for providing alternative livelihoods for affected farmers, P10 million for province-wide crop insurance for farmers and fisherfolk, and P40 million for constructing small-water impounding projects.

The alternative livelihood program will distribute two piglets each to 852 farmers in the towns of Cabatuan, Igbaras, Leon, Miagao, Tigbauan, and Tubungan.

Environmental efforts include building large-scale above-ground and underground cisterns at the province’s 13 district hospitals and the provincial capitol complex, costing P20 million.

An additional P15 million is designated for establishing a small-scale water impounding dam and a micro-mini hydropower plant in Maasin and Janiuay.

Veterinary responses, totaling P3 million, will support vaccination against communicable diseases, administration of multi-vitamins, amino acids, and electrolyte solutions, and the provision of injectable antibiotics across the province’s 43 local government units.

Health-related measures will also be implemented across these units, focusing on the procurement of commodities for minimum initial service packages during disasters and emergencies, nutrition in emergencies (P2 million each), supplies for water sanitation and hygiene (P1 million), and essential drugs and medicines for prepositioning (P5 million).

Funding sources include the PDRRM Trust Fund, PDRRM Continuing Appropriation, and the 2024 PDRRM regular budget. Unlike typical responses, the province’s Quick Response Fund, generally used during states of calamity, will not be utilized for this initiative. The funding proposal awaits approval by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as it originates from regular funding sources.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. disclosed these details to the media, 10 days after the PDDRMC’s special meeting where the state of calamity recommendation was made. Defensor explained that the delay was due to the need to assess the financial requirements for the El Niño response activities.

While the province itself has not yet been formally declared under a state of calamity, 10 local government units including Balasan, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Dingle, Estancia