COTABATO CITY, April 23 -- Maguindanao del Sur Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu has approved a resolution declaring the entire province a state of calamity due to huge agricultural losses brought about by drought.

"The drought has affected 5,601 farmers and destroyed over P345.9 million of crops. Heavily affected are palay and corn fields, banana plantations, livestock and poultry, and freshwater fish," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

On Monday, Mangudadatu signed Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 039 after 20 of the province's 24 municipalities experienced heavy losses in agriculture, livestock, poultry, and inland fisheries.

The affected towns include Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Dat...