IKOT.PH
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will not suspend rice imports this year, opting to prioritize food security over market intervention as it prepares for a strong El Niño that could curb domestic production and tighten rice supplies ahead of the dry season harvest in early 2027. The decision marks a shift from last year, when […]
The House of Representatives is moving early to strengthen the country’s preparedness against the looming effects of El Niño, with Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III urging government agencies to shift from reactive disaster response to proactive planning before the dry spell worsens. Speaking at the House Committee on Agriculture and Food’s El Niño briefing, the […]
Senator Kiko Pangilinan is seeking a Senate inquiry into the government’s preparedness to address the effects of El Niño, emphasizing the need for proactive and long-term measures to protect the country’s farmers and fisherfolk, food security, water resources, and the livelihoods of millions of Filipinos. Highlighting the climate risks facing the agriculture and fisheries sectors, […]
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Representative Nonoy Libanan urged local government units (LGUs) and community organizations to brace for the looming El Niño-induced dry weather conditions by tapping the P1-billion People’s Survival Fund (PSF) for practical climate adaptation projects, including rainwater harvesting systems. “In the 2026 General Appropriations Act, Congress allocated P1 billion for […]
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III stressed the importance of ensuring that government plans, resources, and interventions are in place to protect farmers, fisherfolk, and the country’s food supply from the looming effects of El Niño as the House Committee on Agriculture and Food convened a briefing on the government’s preparedness measures. Dy said the […]
Senator Kiko Pangilinan fully supports the Inter-Agency Task Force El Niño to mitigate the adverse impacts of the drought expected to be brought about by the El Niño phenomenon later this year. In a media interview in Albay province on the sidelines of his attendance at the Agri Fiesta 2026 there, Pangilinan explained that the […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered the reconvening of the Department of Agriculture’s El Niño task force to prepare the country for a potentially severe episode later this year, warning that the prolonged dry spell could hit crop production, hurt farmers’ incomes, and drive up food prices. “It is imperative that we put […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is implementing a coordinated, data-informed preparedness plan to help the agriculture sector manage potential dry conditions associated with a possible El Niño later in 2026. The plan builds on lessons from the 2024 dry spell and focuses on readiness, coordination, and timely interventions. At the center of the preparations are […]
Senator Chiz Escudero today urged the government to tap the P30-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), created under Republic Act No. 11203, to finance interventions that go beyond short‑term cash aid to shield farmers from El Niño and rising global fuel costs. Escudero pointed to the P15 billion allocation for “Other Priority Programs, Activities and […]
The Department of Agriculture is stepping up preparations for a looming El Niño episode, warning that a moderate to strong event later this year could hit farm output, sharply undermine farmers’ income, and slow down economic activity. “It is no longer a question whether we will experience another El Niño after the 2024 episode that […]