SEN. Bong Go sought more assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and rural communities, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) cautioned that the nation’s rice output could fall by 700,000 metric tons this year due to a potentially strong El Niño event.
The DA said that reduction is equivalent to approximately 3.5 percent of the annual production goal.
Go said the warning should compel relevant agencies to enhance their preparedness and ensure that support reaches communities reliant on agriculture for their livelihoods.
The DA had announced that it had reconvened the El Niño task force to brace for what could be a severe event later this year. An extended dry spell could stunt crop production, diminish farmers’ earnings and lead to higher food prices.
Among the actions being implemented are cloud seeding to boost rainfall, the installation of solar-powered irrigation systems, changes in the planting schedule to correspond with the northeast monsoon, or habagat, and crop diversification.
Go said the initiatives must be complemented by accessible support systems for affected agricultural workers, especially those in rice-producing regions and rural municipalities facing heightened risks of drought, production declines and rising input costs.
The senator has advocated for policies designed to fortify the agriculture sector and enhance national food security. He is a co-author of Republic Act (RA) 11901, or the Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022, which improves financing structures and support systems to provide farmers and fisherfolk better access to necessary resources.
Go also co-authored and co-sponsored RA 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which cancels loans, along with interest, penalties and surcharges, for agrarian reform beneficiaries to lessen their financial burdens.
He also proposed Senate Bill (SB) 680, titled the Postharvest Facilities in Every Agricultural Municipality Act, which aims to require the construction of warehouses and rice mills in rice-producing areas through collaboration between the Department of Public Works and Highways, the DA and farmer cooperatives.
He introduced SB 681, or the proposed Fertilizer Subsidy for Farmers Act, which aims to provide financial assistance to farmers to help lower input expenses.
SB 673, or the Full Crop Insurance Coverage for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Act, seeks to offer free insurance coverage to farmers managing 5 hectares of land or less.
Go said that as the nation readies for the potential effects of El Niño, support for agriculture must remain practical, timely and concentrated on those most vulnerable to production losses.
He also highlighted the need to safeguard both producers and consumers, pointing out that a drop in rice output can impact not only farmers’ earnings but also the pricing and availability of food for everyday households.
