DAVAO CITY — Five of the over a hundred local government units that have been declared under a state of calamity due to the El Niño phenomenon are from Mindanao.
Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama,  spokesperson of Task  Force El Niño said the local government units include Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao Del Norte, and South Cotabato.
Farmers in affected areas have reported massive losses of their crops and other agricultural products.
Under Republic Act 10121 Â when a local government unit declares a state they can utilize the 5% calamity fund or the Quick Response Fund.
Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act defines a state of calamity as a “condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.”
State weather station PAGASA on Monday identified at least 36 areas with a “dangerous” heat index classification, with indices ranging from 42°C to 47°C.
The weather bureau earlier said El Niño could be on its way out, with the transition period starting by the end of May until July but La Niña is expected.
As of Today, some parts of the Davao Region and of Mindanao have experienced heavy downpours while others had scattered rain showers.
On Saturday, the Department of Education announced that public schools must implement Asynchronous Class/Distance Learning on April 29 and 30 as the forecasted heat index will affect the learning process.
Other activities have been rescheduled due to hot weather.
