MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian on Wednesday called on the Department of Agriculture to present a comprehensive, long-term contingency plan to protect the country's food security as agricultural damage from El Niño reached ₱6.8 billion.
During deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget for the agriculture sector on October 21, 2026, Gatchalian underscored the urgency of immediate intervention, citing climate projections from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Based on data presented during the hearing, the persistent dry spell has crippled major farming communities across the nation.
“So far, agricultural damage caused by El Niño has reached approximately ₱6.8 billion. Around 163,000 metric tons of agricultural products have been affected, along with approximately 249 hectares of agricultural land. These figures are as of September 30,” Gatchalian said.
The senator noted that seasonal rain patterns have failed to materialize, exacerbating soil dryness and placing upcoming harvest cycles at risk.
“As we can all feel, October is normally a rainy month, but it has barely been raining. I would like to request a briefing from the Secretary on the forecast for El Niño and its impact on agriculture, the contingency measures being implemented, and the budgetary components that could help mitigate its effects on the agricultural sector,” he said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. acknowledged the growing strain on national reserves.
