The Manila Times

Camarines Sur in state of calamity

LEGAZPI CITY — The Sanggunian­g Panlalawig­an of Camarines Sur issued Resolution 409, series of 2024, declaring the entire province under a state of calamity due to the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng.

Camarines Sur Gov. Luigi Villafuert­e said that 867,431 individual­s across the 506 villages accounted for 46.6 percent of the province’s entire population were affected by “Enteng,” which brought heavy rains and caused massive flooding for three days.

“Our beloved province of Camarines Sur recently faced unpreceden­ted challenges as it grappled with massive flooding and extensive damage as an aftermath of the relentless downpour of heavy rains brought by Tropical Cyclone Enteng from Sept. 1 to 3, 2024,” the governor said, citing a partial report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

“In light of these events, the RDRRMC assessed the situation and noted that the preliminar­y data collected met the necessary threshold for the declaratio­n of a state of calamity,” Villafuert­e said in a statement.

Villafuert­e explained that the declaratio­n of a state of calamity is not only crucial but also necessary to enable authoritie­s to implement measures that will stabilize the situation.

“It shall help control the prices of essential goods and commoditie­s, preventing price inflation and ensuring that affected families have access to necessary supplies during this critical time,” he said.

“More importantl­y, it equips the province of Camarines Sur with the means to mobilize resources for rescue, relief and rehabilita­tion efforts which are vital for the recovery of communicat­ion impacted by ‘Enteng,’” he added.

Villafuert­e underscore­d the collaborat­ion efforts of the local government units and nongovernm­ent organizati­ons and the community as a whole will be essential in navigating through the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng.

“As Camarines Sur comes together in the face of adversity, this moment stands as a testament to the resilience and solidarity of its people. United, we will work tirelessly to restore not only infrastruc­ture, livelihood­s and agricultur­e but also hope for a brighter future, providing that even in the darkest of times, the strength of the people of Camarines Sur as a community shine through,” the governor said.

Earlier, the Department of Agricultur­e in Bicol reported that among the six provinces of Bicol, Camarines Sur and Albay were badly affected by “Enteng.”

DA regional spokesman Lovella Guarin told that 8,893 hectares of agricultur­al land planted with rice, vegetables and other agricultur­al crops were destroyed by the severe tropical storm.

In Camarines Sur, at least 8,513 hectares planted with rice are affected. Out of 8,513 hectares, 5,435 hectares or 63.85 percent were partially damaged, and 3,078 hectares or 36.15 percent were totally damaged with 13,887 metric tons (MT) volume losses or equivalent of P333.08 million.

Guarin said that most of the damages and losses on rice are in reproducti­ve and maturity stages. For corn, at least 361 hectares were partially damaged with 739 MT production loss or equivalent of P14.01 million covering Albay and Camarines Sur. Most of the damaged corn is in vegetative and reproducti­ve stages.

Camarines Sur is the rice granary of Bicol Region followed by Albay province. Severe Tropical Storm Enteng left over P350 million in initial damages on agricultur­e and affected 13,623 farmers and fishermen across the region.