BACOLOD CITY: The municipality of San Enrique in Negros Occidental has been placed under a state of calamity due to the dry spell, Mayor Jilson Tubillara announced on Monday, April 8.

The municipal council has approved the declaration based on the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Council (DRRMC) during a special session on Monday.

San Enrique is the first local government unit in Negros Occidental to declare a state of calamity due to effects of the El Nino phenomenon to the agricultural industry.

Tubillara said that as a rice-producing town, San Enrique has been badly affected by the drought.

"Our irrigation system has no water anymore. Our farmers cannot afford to put up their own water pumps for their farms," the mayor said.

The declaration will allow the local government unit (LGU) to allocate its calamity funds to assist drought affected farmers, he said.

"We are planning to give the affected farmers cash assistance aside from the cash assistance to be given by the provincial government," he added.

However, he did not specify the amount the LGU will give the farmers as it will still depend on the recommendation of the municipal agriculturist.

The town council also passed a resolution calling on the Department of Agriculture to conduct cloud seeding operations in Negros Occidental to induce rain.

"The drought has affected 90 percent of the agricultural lands in San Enrique," he added.