THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it supports Senator Francis N. Pangilinan’s call to declare a state of calamity, citing the mounting totals of agricultural damage due to El Niño, which it estimates at P8.57 billion so far.
The DA’s “worst-case” scenario puts the number of farmers and fisherfolk affected by dry spells at 4.6 million, with output of palay (unmilled rice) reduced by 1 million metric tons.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said a calamity declaration will expedite the release of funds needed to deal with emergencies.
“I do agree it’s good that we declare state of calamity because from all indications it’s a Super El Niño,” Mr. Laurel said.
Undersecretary for rice industry Christopher V. Morales cited the positive impact of such a declaration on contingency planning and the rollout of mitigation measures.
“This will allow us to anticipate risks, minimize potential damage, and respond swiftly to areas threatened by the impacts of Super El Niño,” Mr. Morales said.
According to Mr. Pangilinan, the declaration can ensure the prompt release of resources and institutional support, with some standby loan facilities from development banks also waiting on calamity declarations before they can be released.
Mr. Pangilinan called for relief for food producers facing prolonged dry conditions.
In a DA bulletin released Oct. 21, agricultural losses were estimated at P8.57 billion with lost volume amounting to 220,307 metric tons (MT).
Losses to the rice crop were estimated at 71,408 MT valued at P2.95 billion.
Losses to the corn crop came in at 132,290 MT, valued at P5 billion.
The DA said it has provided P11.34 billion worth of assistance to farmers to address El Niño’s effects, with P10.81 billion going into seed, fertilizer, and soil conditioners. Cloud seeding operations were also conducted and 338 water pumps distributed to Regions II, III, IV-A, IV-A, V, VI and IX. — Maria Mikaela H. Mormon