An inter-agency task force should be mobilized early to prepare the Philippines for the expected impact of El Niño later this year, particularly on agriculture, fisheries, food supply, and prices.
Senator Francis Pangilinan backed the creation of an El Niño task force that would bring together key agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Finance (DOF) to coordinate government interventions before drought conditions worsen.
The proposed task force is expected to ensure that calamity and quick-response funds are ready for release, irrigation systems are prepared, food supply is monitored, and support programs for affected farmers and fisherfolk are activated on time.
“May budget ang gobyerno para sa natural disasters, calamity relief, quick response na dapat ma-mobilize. At syempre, kapag nagkaroon ng state of calamity declaration, yung pondo na mare-release para sa calamity funds,” Pangilinan said in an interview.
He said the government must prepare as early as now for possible disruptions in rice production and rural livelihood, especially if El Niño intensifies in the third and fourth quarters.
“So, lahat yan dapat inihahanda at tiyakin na pagka yung supply ng ating bigas dapat sapat,” he said.
He added that cash-for-work programs, repair and rehabilitation efforts, and other support measures should be lined up so they can be deployed quickly in drought-hit communities.
The task force could also help direct irrigation and farm-level measures, including water-saving technologies, rainwater harvesting, water distribution rotation, and the promotion of early-maturing and drought-tolerant rice varieties.
Similar interventions were implemented during the 2015 El Niño episode, including the Quick Turn Around Scheme, which encouraged immediate planting after harvest to maximize available water and reduce crop losses.
The senator said the experience showed that timely and coordinated action could help cushion the impact of drought on food prices and supply.
“So, an inter-agency task force on El Niño should be mobilized, should be organized, and should start planning for the third and fourth quarters of this year,” he said.
The proposed task force is expected to serve as a central coordinating body for drought preparedness, helping agencies align budgets, protect farm output, support vulnerable sectors, and prevent food security risks from escalating once El Niño conditions begin to affect the country.