South Cotabato has officially been declared a state of calamity due to the severe impact of the El Niño weather pattern, which has caused extensive damage across the region. The decision was made by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato after the province, particularly the towns of Banga, Norala, Surallah, Tantangan, and Tboli, suffered significant drought conditions that affected crops, livestock, and infrastructure.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of South Cotabato reported that the damages have amounted to approximately P201.9 million so far. This declaration aims to streamline the use of calamity funds to address the urgent needs of the affected areas.
Surallah town had already declared a state of calamity earlier due to the detrimental effects of El Niño, highlighting the severity of the situation. The Office of the Municipal Agriculturist in Surallah noted that nearly 1,000 hectares of farmland and fish ponds are drying up, with agricultural losses reaching around P71 million as of the end of March.
This calamity declaration allows the affected municipalities to access their calamity fund allocations promptly, enabling them to implement necessary relief and rehabilitation measures. The national government’s Task Force El Niño has also reported that El Niño has impacted at least 103 cities and municipalities nationwide, underscoring the widespread nature of this environmental challenge.