THE Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said it is reactivating its El Niño Task Force to improve interagency coordination and response readiness in preparation for the weather phenomenon expected to affect the country from the middle of this year.
El Niño is characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, causing reduced rainfall, prolonged dry spells, or droughts. It is seen to lead to water shortages, reduced agricultural output, and higher temperatures between 2026 and 2027.
Recent studies indicate that a severe El Niño this year could slash farm production by 20 to 30 percent. Agricultural output already declined by 0.3 percent in the first quarter, while gains in the poultry and livestock sector were outweighed by a decline in palay (unhusked rice) production, the DA said.
The agency said it is strengthening ongoing interventions under the National Rice Program and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to soften El Niño’s effects on rice production and farmer incomes.
These initiatives include distributing high-quality and climate-resilient seeds, water-saving technologies, irrigation support, fertilizer assistance, farm mechanization, credit assistance, and increased extension and farmer training services.
The DA is likewise implementing existing support, including crop insurance, credit access, and market facilitation.
“What we learned during the 2024 El Niño will guide us how to prepare and intervene this time around,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
Aside from these preparations, Tiu Laurel said that the Philippines has reached a deal with Vietnam for 1.5 million metric tons of rice at competitive prices. Actual import volumes would still depend on domestic production and market costs, he added.
“Just like last year, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. imposed an import ban from September to December to support palay prices, we will continue to balance food security with the interests of our farmers, ensuring they earn a fair return for their hard work,” Tiu Laurel said.
