MARAWI CITY (PIA) -- The provincial government of Lanao del Sur is considering placing the province under a state of calamity to provide more substantial assistance to the sectors affected by El Niño.
With this in mind, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened on April 24 to evaluate El Niño's impact on agriculture, environment, health, and education across the province.
According to the initial report of the Office of Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), 360 farmers in 20 barangays have suffered due to the intense heat. The assessment focused on OPAg program beneficiaries in 11 municipalities, including Marantao, Bubong, Lumba-Bayabao, Poona Bayabao, Ganassi, Ditsaan-Ramain, and Tugaya, among others, along with Marawi City.
It was observed that crop production has been significantly affected, leading to failures and stunted growth in crops such as rice and vegetables. Dry and cracked soil is widespread, with dried-up irrigation canals exacerbating the situation.
"Isang beses lang umulan sa amin kaya't nag-iigib na lang kami ng tubig upang mabuhay ang aming mga panamin. Subalit hindi itosapat kaya namamatay o 'failure' ang ilan sa aming mga tanim ," said vegetable farmer Diara Dipatuan from Ganassi town.
(It only rained once in our area, so we rely on watering our crops to keep them alive. However, it's not enough, leading to the death or failure of some of our plants)
The OPAg also monitored fishponds in several municipalities, revealing dire conditions with dried-up water sources and the absence of fish, while some ponds suffered from algal blooms.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office highlighted that Lake Lanao's water level was nearing the critical point, potentially affecting generation capacity. As of April 22, the elevation of Lake Lanao was 699.50 meters above sea level, while the critical level is pegged at 699.15 meters above sea level.
Acting Provincial Fire Marshall Ysrael Kamid reported an alarming increase in fire incidents compared to previous years, with grass fires and residential incidents being predominant. He said 35 fire incidents were already recorded from January to April 22, 2024.
Class suspension was also declared in the municipality of Amai Manabilang from April 5 to 9 due to hot weather, prompting recommendations from the Provincial Legal Services Office to adjust class hours for the safety of learners and teachers.
DRRM officer Shaminoden Sambitory emphasized that El Niño aggravated the already hot summer weather, with dry spells expected to continue and the possibility of drought by the end of May.
As of press time, the PDRRMC awaits reports from various concerned agencies, especially from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform, to fully grasp the impact of El Niño in the province. (APB, PIA Region 10 - Lanao del Sur)
