Basilan province, once known due to its history of local armed conflict, is in crisis once again.
This time, the provincial government has declared a “state of calamity” due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on its agriculture sector.
This decision was announced by Governor Hajiman Hataman-Salliman following the approval of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
The declaration empowers the provincial government and local units across 11 towns and two cities to access their respective disaster funds to mitigate the adverse effects of the prolonged dry spell.
Governor Salliman stressed the urgency of immediate action to alleviate the impacts of the drought gripping the province.
Nixon Alonzo, an officer of the PDRRMC, highlighted that the full extent of agricultural damage is yet to be determined.
However, nearly all agricultural and aqua-marine farms have suffered significant reductions in production due to the prolonged dry conditions.
Rivers and creeks, vital sources of irrigation, have dwindled to a trickle, exacerbating the agricultural crisis.
Reports indicate that cities such as Isabela and Lamitan, alongside Maluso town, are grappling with low water supplies, further exacerbating the dire situation.
This declaration comes on the heels of 18 local government units having previously declared a state of calamity due to the relentless drought, underlining the severity of the crisis gripping Basilan.
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