The Department of Agriculture (DA) is backing Senator Francis N. Pangilinan's proposal for a state of calamity in response to severe agricultural damage attributed to El Niño. Current estimates indicate losses have reached P8.57 billion.
Escalating Agricultural Impact
I do agree it’s good that we declare a state of calamity because from all indications it’s a Super El Niño.
Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., Agriculture Secretary
The DA's worst-case scenario suggests that 4.6 million farmers and fisherfolk are at risk, with palay output expected to drop by 1 million metric tons. Secretary Laurel emphasized that a calamity declaration would streamline the release of crucial funding.
Undersecretary Christopher V. Morales highlighted that the declaration would enhance contingency planning and facilitate rapid responses to mitigate the impacts of El Niño. The DA has already allocated P11.34 billion in assistance to farmers, focusing on seed and fertilizer distribution.
These figures illustrate the gravity of the situation. The urgent call for relief comes as food producers struggle with prolonged dry conditions.