Senatorial candidate and Makati City Mayor Abigail ‘Abby’ Binay has proposed an increase in public funding to improve climate forecasting, aiming to assist farmers and the agriculture sector, which have been severely impacted by extreme weather conditions.
Binay was referring to programs implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the lone weather agency.
“Climate change is already upon us. We have been discussing rising temperatures for years, yet funding for essential programs like Project NOAH has been reduced, leaving us unprepared when disasters strike,” she said in a statement last Friday.
Binay emphasized the significance of accurate and timely forecasting, saying, “increased funding for climate forecasting could help provide early warnings to farmers and communities about extreme weather, allowing them to take necessary precautions.”
The seasoned public servant noted that addressing climate change requires resilience, which is built on data and forecasting. “Without proper data, we are flying blind,” she said.
Binay advocated for more funding to support DOST-PAGASA’s climate data collection and forecasting services, believing this would be beneficial in the long term.
“Let’s invest in data, forecasting, and resilience to protect our future,” Binay said.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) stated that 98% of agricultural production losses from 2013 to 2022 are due to climate-related hazards. The total agricultural production loss caused by climate-related events has been estimated at ₱848,889,131.
The DA also reported that rice is the most adversely affected crop, with losses accounting for 36%, which amounts to some ₱P108 billion.
Typhoons have been identified as responsible for 88% of total damages and are considered the most destructive climate-related hazard to agriculture, according to the department.