By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture is moving to shield the country’s food supply from a potentially damaging El Niño episode, with drought threatening farm production and raising the risk of tighter supplies and higher food prices.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered agencies under the DA to continuously recalibrate their response plans as updated data on weather conditions, crop prospects, water availability and market movements emerge.
The directive comes as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) warns that El Niño could intensify inflationary pressures, adding another threat to efforts to keep food prices under control.
“The lessons we learned from the powerful El Niño episode that ended in mid-2024 should help us respond better to the climate challenge we now face,” Tiu Laurel said.
The agriculture department is pursuing both immediate and preventive measures, providing support to local producers while working to secure food stocks before prolonged dry conditions begin to translate into shortages and higher prices.
The threat is not confined to domestic production. Uncertainty in global rice output and international trade policies could further complicate efforts to maintain stable food supplies, leaving the Philippines vulnerable to movements in the international market.
The renewed climate threat also comes as the BSP takes a more cautious stance on inflation. The central bank raised its key interest rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, citing persistent price pressures and signaling that additional monetary action remains possible if inflation risks intensify.
For the agriculture sector, the stakes are particularly high. A prolonged dry spell could reduce harvests, strain water resources and push up the cost of basic commodities—pressures that can quickly reach consumers.
The DA is therefore seeking to get ahead of the problem by strengthening its preparations before weather-related disruptions become a full-blown supply crisis.
After the severe El Niño episode that persisted into 2024, the government now faces a test of whether early planning, timely intervention and closer monitoring can prevent another climate shock from turning into a food and inflation crisis.
ia/xf
