Over 100 Philippine Towns in State of Calamity Amid Drought
A dried up reservoir in Nueva Ecija province, Philippines, on April 28.
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Some 131 cities and municipalities in the Philippines have declared a state of calamity due to El Nino, an official said, as the Southeast Asian nation grapples with drought and extreme heat.
The areas are affected by El Nino “in varying degrees,” with many of them experiencing drought or low rain fall, Joey Villarama, spokesperson for the government’s El Nino task force, told reporters on Tuesday. Declaring a state of calamity would give the local government units easier access to funds.