As the wrath of the El Niño phenomenon continues to intensify, its damage to the Philippines’ agricultural sector has swelled to P3.34 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Based on the DA's Bulletin No. 7 on the Effects of El Niño, there are now 11 regions affected by the phenomenon with 73,713 farmers and fisherfolk affected.
“The latest El Niño bulletin estimates damage and losses to farms in 11 regions: Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region and Soccsksargen at P3.94 billion,” the bulletin, which was released on Friday, April 19, stated.
The agency noted that the potential production losses from 66,065 hectares affected by the dry spell are estimated at 98,243 metric tons (MT) for palay, 40,195 MT for corn, and 24,102 MT for high-value crops (HVC).
The DA said the impacted rice area of 43,659 hectares is 2.04 percent of the total target area planted of 2,137,046.77 hectares, while the production loss of 98,243 MT is approximately 1.07 percent of the target production of 9,218,358.28 MT.
In corn, the DA said the phenomenon affected 18,201 hectares or 1.65 percent of the overall target area planted of 1,101,695.90 hectares, and the production loss of 40,195 MT equals 0.89 percent of the target production of 4,493,026.90 MT.
Government aid
So far, the agriculture department has distributed interventions totaling P1.09 billion, including support to production, financial and livelihood assistance, and water management.
To address the effects of El Niño on affected farmers and fisherfolk, the Department has distributed interventions totaling P1.09 billion, which include support to production, financial and livelihood assistance, and water management.
“As support to production, high-value crops with less water requirement (e.g. mungbean) were distributed to farmers in Iloilo and Negros Occidental amounting to P990,000,” the DA said.
Hybrid rice seeds worth P7.87 million and fertilizers worth P7.63 million have been given to non-vulnerable areas in Western Visayas, and corn seeds worth P1.16 million in Ilocos Region for maximization of production to compensate for incurred losses, the agency said.
Through its Philippine Native Animal Development (PNAD) Program, the DA has provided 60,013 native animals to 334 groups and 534 individual farmers around the country in terms of financial and livelihood support.
As such, the DA reported that 139,002 farmers in the Cagayan Valley received financial support from the Rice Farmers Financial Support (RFFA) Program totaling P701.96 million, and 71,795 farmers in the Mimaropa Region received financial aid totaling P362.56 million.
“As support to fisherfolk, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has provided a total of 111 diversified alternative livelihoods and technologies in Cordillera, Bicol, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula Regions,” it went on.
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), according to the DA, has paid out a total of P62.81 million in indemnification to 6,867 farmers in the regions of Davao, Soccsksargen, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and Western Visayas.
To alleviate the water shortage, the DA said its Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) is conducting cloud seeding operations, focusing on corn areas in Southern Cagayan, Northern Isabela, Quirino, and Magat Reservoir.
“The overall success rate is 90 percent resulting in light to moderate rains over the municipalities of Cabagan, Sta. Maria, San Pablo and Tumauini in Isabela Province; Enrile, Iguig, Peñablanca and Tuguegarao in Cagayan Province; and Nagtipunan in Quirino Province,” the agency stated.
On the other hand, the DA said the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has installed 616 water augmentation pumps in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Davao regions ensuring that there is a water source in these areas prior to installation.
“Concreting of irrigation canals is also ongoing, which improved 847.82 kilometers of irrigation canals, benefitting 40,621 farmers nationwide. Further, desiltation of irrigation canals is being undertaken, improving water flow of 3,167.95 kilometers of irrigation canals nationwide,” it noted.
The agency noted that the DA Regional Field Offices in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Mimaropa regions have endorsed the list of affected farmers to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment for other forms of assistance such as the provision of food packs and cash for work programs.
Rice prices may not decrease due to El Niño
Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier said that the prices of rice in the country may not go down despite the harvest season and price downswing in the global market.
He said such was because of the agricultural damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon. Laurel said the world rice prices are currently going down but due to the “lingering effects” of the phenomenon, it is unlikely for rice prices to decrease in the Philippines.
He noted that the Philippines is now at the peak of the El Niño phenomenon so we could expect to monitor more agricultural damage.
“To be honest, pataas pa, we are at the height of the El Niño now. Hopefully, by end of May, patapos na 'yan, pababa na (To be honest, [the agricultural damnage] is still increasing, we are at the height of El Nino now),” he explained.
LGUs under state of calamity
On April 5, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama, the spokesperson of Task Force El Niño, said a total of 18 local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines had already declared a state of calamity due to the worsening effects of El Niño. These are: 11 municipalities in Occidental Mindoro; Bulalacao and Mansalay towns in Oriental Mindoro; San Vicente, Palawan; San Andres, Romblon; Mayoyao, Ifugao; Sibalom, Antique; and Zamboanga City.
According to Villarama, most of the LGUs that declared a state of calamity are from Luzon, as the island is where most of the areas with drought conditions are located based on the observation of the task force.
The number might further increase as four municipalities in Iloilo are also mulling to declare a state of calamity, but he noted that they should meet the criteria to do so, he added.
For an area to be declared under a state of calamity, the task force spokesperson said it must meet the criteria including: 15 percent of the population shall be affected, 30 percent of livelihoods shall be impacted, and there shall be damage to structures or vital installations.