El Niño pushes 106 areas in the Philippines into a state of calamity

A total of 106 cities and municipalities and five provinces in the Philippines have declared a state of calamity due to the El Nino. The country’s Office of Civil Defense reported that more than 100,000 families are affected. The government has already started distributing aid and cash assistance to the affected families.

Declaring a state of calamity means officials can tap emergency funds for affected residents and impose a price freeze on basic commodities. Meanwhile, the state science and technology agency warns all 82 provinces in the Philippines will experience drought by the end of March next year.