Iloilo: The municipality of Ajuy in northern Iloilo is now in a state of calamity due to the energy emergency affecting the locality. Mayor Loida Espinosa said the declaration was made through Resolution No. 088, passed by the Sangguniang Bayan on Tuesday following the recommendation from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) and the confirmed impact on essential services, including transportation and livelihood.
According to Philippines News Agency, the state of calamity was first declared by three island barangays: Tagubanhan, Punta Buri, and Nasidman, which are dependent on fishing as their source of livelihood. Mayor Espinosa highlighted the challenges faced by these communities, noting that "aside from transportation going to the mainland and to the island, their source of livelihood is affected," with diesel costs around PHP130 per liter. The barangays rely on diesel generators for electricity, particularly in Nasidman.
Espinosa explained that the state of calamity is declared if 50 percent of the total population or 30 percent of their livelihood is affected; or if two or more barangays have declared they are affected. She emphasized that this declaration is an official acknowledgment by the local government unit that the daily activities of the people are already impacted. However, the transport sector has not yet been fully accounted for, only the island barangays.
Even with the state of calamity, Espinosa mentioned that they are not yet considering using their quick response fund but will first encourage energy conservation. Fishers are encouraged to adopt the use of "layag" (sail), combining wind and diesel as a fishing innovation. The local government plans to provide sail and rope to an initial 200 fisherfolk with fishing vessels having one to 1.5 gross tonnage.
For the transport sector, the municipal government has provided more than 300 tricycle drivers with electric bikes along with 15 kilos of rice each. Espinosa stated that they will implement these measures gradually since the national government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, is also extending assistance.
