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Gatchalian seeks Senate inquiry into gov't readiness vs El Niño
Philippines
National
Gatchalian seeks Senate inquiry into gov't readiness vs El Niño
Gatchalian seeks Senate inquiry into gov't readiness vs El Niño
Published Jul 30, 2023 03:52 am
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution asking the Senate to look into the government’s readiness to mitigate the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian (Senate PRIB Photo)
In filing Senate Resolution No. 691, Gatchalian cited the declaration made by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) of the onset of El Niño, which will likely persist until the first quarter of next year. He also cited its potential consequences on inflation due to reduced food production. He also said this could potentially lead to higher electricity rates and eventually exacerbate poverty levels. “There is an urgent need to assess the capability of concerned government agencies and determine the planned interventions to mitigate the impact of El Niño,” Gatchalian said. “The entire Philippine government should be prepared to cushion the detrimental effects of the El Niño phenomenon on the country’s food, energy, and economic security,” he emphasized. “Dahil sa perwisyo ng El Niño na nararanasan na natin ngayon, maaari din nitong pataasin ang presyo ng mga bilihin tulad ng pagkain, pati na ng kuryente (Because of the inconvenience brought by El Niño that we experience now, it can lead to higher prices of goods like food and even electricity),” he warned. Likewise, this weather phenomenon could diminish the agriculture sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Based on a 2019 World Bank report, the senator said recurring El Niño occurrences in the country are estimated to cause national GDP losses ranging from -0.29% to -1.57% and agricultural GDP losses between -1.73% and -6.9%. Had El Niño emerged in 2022, the lawmaker noted it could have translated to estimated losses of P57.84-billion to P313.11-billion in national GDP and between P30.85-billion and P124.31-billion in the agricultural sector’s GDP, based on the country’s economic data. He also noted that previous El Niño occurrences brought drought nationwide and water supply shortages due to lower-than-average rainfall in the country, and greatly affected farmers who rely heavily on rainfall for their livelihood. During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. mentioned the importance of addressing the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon. According to the President, the government is currently implementing efforts, including cloud seeding, to counter its effects.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian (Senate PRIB Photo)
In filing Senate Resolution No. 691, Gatchalian cited the declaration made by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) of the onset of El Niño, which will likely persist until the first quarter of next year. He also cited its potential consequences on inflation due to reduced food production. He also said this could potentially lead to higher electricity rates and eventually exacerbate poverty levels. “There is an urgent need to assess the capability of concerned government agencies and determine the planned interventions to mitigate the impact of El Niño,” Gatchalian said. “The entire Philippine government should be prepared to cushion the detrimental effects of the El Niño phenomenon on the country’s food, energy, and economic security,” he emphasized. “Dahil sa perwisyo ng El Niño na nararanasan na natin ngayon, maaari din nitong pataasin ang presyo ng mga bilihin tulad ng pagkain, pati na ng kuryente (Because of the inconvenience brought by El Niño that we experience now, it can lead to higher prices of goods like food and even electricity),” he warned. Likewise, this weather phenomenon could diminish the agriculture sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Based on a 2019 World Bank report, the senator said recurring El Niño occurrences in the country are estimated to cause national GDP losses ranging from -0.29% to -1.57% and agricultural GDP losses between -1.73% and -6.9%. Had El Niño emerged in 2022, the lawmaker noted it could have translated to estimated losses of P57.84-billion to P313.11-billion in national GDP and between P30.85-billion and P124.31-billion in the agricultural sector’s GDP, based on the country’s economic data. He also noted that previous El Niño occurrences brought drought nationwide and water supply shortages due to lower-than-average rainfall in the country, and greatly affected farmers who rely heavily on rainfall for their livelihood. During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. mentioned the importance of addressing the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon. According to the President, the government is currently implementing efforts, including cloud seeding, to counter its effects.