By Tracy Cabrera
DILIMAN, Quezon City — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is calling on the public and government agencies to help prepare for the expected effects of El Niño, warning that the weather phenomenon could significantly reduce the country’s rice production in the coming months.
DA officials said that if the impact of El Niño goes unchecked, rice harvests could drop by as much as 700,000 metric tons, or around 3.5 percent of normal output.
In response, the agency has reconvened its El Niño task force to roll out mitigation measures, including cloud seeding to enhance rainfall, the installation of solar-powered irrigation systems, adjustments in planting schedules to align with the northeast monsoon or habagat, and the promotion of crop diversification.
“These appear to be reasonable steps and might, in fact, be the practical limit of what the DA can do. What is concerning, however, is that so far, we have heard little to nothing from any other agency about preparations for what will almost certainly be a calamitous climatic event,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
“The problem we are facing here in the Philippines is one of complacency. The country has experienced the effects of El Niño numerous times, and there is a sense among government officials and the public alike that we already know what to expect,” he added.
Laurel said the agriculture department will proceed with the mitigation measures while also coordinating with other sectors. He noted that the public health sector will heighten vigilance against heat-related illnesses, while local government units will be reminded to review and update their disaster preparedness plans in case of strong storms.
“What may be coming—or what we are being told is almost certain to come—will very likely overwhelm those preparations and cause problems in areas that are not even being considered at the moment,” he warned.
He also pointed out that prolonged hotter-than-normal conditions could strain the country’s already stretched energy infrastructure, not only in terms of supply but also through higher electricity costs at a time when food prices are expected to rise due to El Niño’s impact on agriculture.
Laurel added that drought conditions could also threaten water supply, recalling that similar challenges were experienced—but not fully resolved—during the strong El Niño event in 2014 to 2016.
He stressed the need for a unified, whole-of-nation response to mitigate the phenomenon’s effects on agriculture and other sectors, saying: “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
ia/xf
