Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is calling for immediate assistance for farmers, citing the ongoing disruption of the El Niño weather phenomenon on the country’s agriculture sector.
“It is important that we have funds to provide the necessary support to protect our farmers’ investments and to revive their crops,” he said, citing the need for a timely release of such funds.
The senator further said: “We have to be ready to aid our agriculture sector, especially the rice sector, to guarantee the availability and supply of agricultural products.”
He further said the government should expedite financial support for farmers adversely affected by the onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon.
Gatchalian said the state weather bureau earlier reported that El Niño will further intensify and could reach its peak this month.
He also cited data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Task Force El Niño, which said the dry spell has affected more than 50,000 farmers, mostly rice farmers.
Data also shows that the country’s estimated cost of agricultural damage because of El Niño has reached P2.63 billion to date and drove almost 20 local government units to declare states of calamities in their respective areas.
The senator also warned of a shortage of rice because of the intense heat.
“And the Department of Agriculture should take a good look at our rice supply now and in the next 6 months,” he said.
“And if we have no choice, it is important that we have access to imported rice from Vietnam, India, or other countries,” he added.
The principal agencies that are part of the Task Force El Niño have their regular budgets and the quick response fund. If these fall short, the budget can be sourced through other avenues through the appropriate process as long as it is approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“Let’s take action on the problem. Because if this El Niño worsens, many things will be affected such as electricity, food, and livelihood,” he further stayed.
Senator Robin Padilla earlier filed Senate Resolution 987 seeking to hold Senate hearings to review and improve the government’s information drive on its preparations and responses to the crisis caused by El Nino.
He said the public must be informed of up-to-date and necessary preparations and responses of the national and local government as the country has been taking the brunt of dangerous levels of heat index, mainly attributed to the El Nino phenomenon
Also, Padilla noted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had commanded government agencies to initiate a whole-of-government approach to address the effects of El Nino and the looming effects of La Nina.