SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The province of Antique in the Philippines has declared a state of calamity as a severe drought brought on by the El Niño phenomenon continues to devastate the region.
The provincial board unanimously approved Resolution 351-2024 on Thursday, authorizing Governor Rhodora Cadiao to tap into the province’s 10 million peso quick response fund to provide immediate assistance to affected residents.
“This will allow us to hasten the delivery of aid and promptly reduce the adverse effects on the welfare, livelihoods and economy of the people of Antique,” said Vice Governor Edgar Denosta in an interview.
The declaration comes after several municipalities, including Sibalom, Anini-y, Laua-an, and Tobias Fornier, had already activated their own state of calamity protocols in response to the worsening drought.
Under national disaster response guidelines, the provincial board was able to take the wider action as the crisis has now impacted at least two cities or municipalities.
Provincial data shows the drought has affected 281 barangays (villages), impacting 12,552 families and 50,292 individuals across Antique. Agricultural damage to rice crops alone has reached 165.6 million pesos.
“The situation is dire, and we must act swiftly to provide clean water, food supplies and financial assistance to the communities hit hardest by this environmental calamity,” Denosta said.
Funds from the quick response kitty will be used to procure mobile water tanks and pumps for the hardest-hit barangays, as well as distribute food packs and direct cash aid.
The declaration of a state of calamity unlocks additional disaster response resources and legal powers to help the province weather the extreme dry spell.
