COTABATO CITY, April 22 -- The local government of M'lang in North Cotabato has declared a state of calamity due to the effects of the El Nino phenomenon, raising the number of towns under calamity in the province to four.

M'lang Mayor Russel Abonado said the drought had affected about PHP345 million worth of crops and livestock in the town's 37 villages.

Earlier, the towns of Alamada, Aleosan and Arakan also declared their respective localities under a state of calamity.

Provincial Agriculture Office officer Ruel Villanueva reported during a recent meeting that the drought had destroyed PHP306 million worth of crops in the initial three affected towns and has also hit parts of Magpet and Pigcawayan municipalities and Kidapawan City. ...