Negros occidental: The provincial government here has placed Negros Occidental under a state of calamity due to the severe effects of tropical cyclone Crising and the alarming outbreak of the red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) affecting sugarcane farms in the province. The declaration is stated in a resolution passed by the Provincial Board led by Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso and approved by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday, a copy of which was released by the province on Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, 'The simultaneous occurrence of both natural and biological calamities has caused massive agricultural losses, endangering food security, employment, and overall economic stability in the province,' the resolution said. The Provincial Board cited the severe damage to property, displacement of families, and disruption of livelihood caused by the heavy rainfall, due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Crising, in the past week.
It said '21 local government units (LGUs) were severely affected, comprising 184 barangays and 35,312 families, with extensive damage to agriculture, infrastructure, and local economies.' Meanwhile, 'the RSSI outbreak had rapidly infested 2,876.28 hectares of sugarcane plantations, adversely affecting 1,574 farmers across 112 barangays in the province,' it added.
According to the Provincial Board, 'the declaration of a state of calamity is imperative to enable the immediate release of emergency funds, stabilize the process of basic goods, and facilitate swift rescue, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation interventions.' The quick response fund from the local disaster risk reduction and management funds can now be utilized within the affected LGUs, and funds can also be programmed or reprogrammed for the repair and upgrading of public infrastructures and facilities, it added.
'A price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities be imposed over the entire province in order to curb predatory pricing by businesses and hoarding of goods,' it further said.
