LAOAG CITY, May 1 -- Dingras town in Ilocos Norte province has been placed under a state of calamity due to prolonged drought.

"In response to the pressing environmental crisis gripping our municipality, it is with deep concern and urgency that we hereby declare the Municipality of Dingras, Ilocos Norte under a state of calamity due to drought," Dingras Mayor Joefrey P. Saguid told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview on Wednesday.

The declaration was announced late Tuesday afternoon, and Saguid said they can now mobilize all available resources and implement swift measures to address the challenges posed by the impact of the El Nino phenomenon.

"For this purpose, 30 percent of the calamity fund will be utilized for the reha...