El Niño affecting 14 regions, agriculture sustains P6.87-B damage

MANILA, Philippines — The El Niño phenomenon, which began to be felt in the Philippines since June, is now affecting 14 of the country’s 18 regions, with its agriculture sector sustaining some P6.87 billion in damage, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In its first bulletin on the weather phenomenon issued on Sept. 26, the DA said a prolonged drought has affected 223,214 farmers in the regions of Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen and Caraga.

According to a June advisory by weather bureau Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), El Niño began to be felt in the country that month and is expected to intensify by yearend. Pagasa’s latest forecast shows the phenomenon persisting until the first half of 2027.

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READ: ‘Very strong El Niño’ to persist in PH until early 2027 – Pagasa

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Some 163,812 million metric tons of agricultural produce, spanning 249,028 hectares of land, have so far been damaged, DA said.

Around 71.38 percent of losses were recorded in corn, amounting to P4.90 billion, most of which are in their vegetative and reproductive stages.

‘Scientific’ solutions

Rice incurred P1.53 billion in damage, equivalent to 22.29 percent. Additional losses were also recorded in cassava and other high-value crops, livestock and poultry.

The DA has sought almost P10 billion in funding to adopt scientific approaches in mitigating the effects of El Niño on local farm production.

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“In every area, we need thematic, location-based, specific interventions that we will provide. Before, we utilized a one-shot deal in all areas. Now, our approach to El Niño will be scientific because this will be a very, very strong El Niño,” said Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, who is also the agency’s spokesperson.

He said earlier the agency has already received P6.2 billion from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for fuel and fertilizer subsidies to affected farmers and fishers.

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READ: Super El Niño: More dire warnings

Aid interventions

The DA also requested another P3.5 billion to construct solar irrigation facilities nationwide, and said it hoped that amount would be released within the fourth quarter.

The department said it has set aside another P10.96 billion for aid interventions to farmers, including production support for seeds, fertilizers and soil conditioners.

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., an attached agency of the DA, was also quoted in its bulletin as saying it will provide P427 million to 42,383 affected farmers.

Meanwhile, the DA said it has distributed 23,459 native chickens to 246 farmers and 78 farmers’ groups via its Philippine Native Animal Development and Animal Production and Distribution programs.

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Other relevant agencies will conduct cloud seeding operations in agricultural and watershed areas in Cagayan Valley, including Magat Dam, while 338 water pumps will be installed to enhance water supply in the other regions. /das