Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan urged concerned government agencies to immediately draw up a province-by-province preparedness plan for the coming Super El Niño, stressing that the government must act before drought and water shortages hit farmers, fisherfolk, and Filipino families.
The senator called on the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and local government units to translate national preparedness efforts into localized action plans.
“May babala na tayo. Dapat ngayon pa lang naghahanda na tayo, hindi kung kelan tuyo na ang bukid at wala nang mahuling isda saka tayo kikilos,” he said.
“Hindi natin kayang pigilan ang El Niño pero kaya nating bawasan ang epekto nito sa ating mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at mamimili. Dapat nating maunahan ang problema, tutal tayo sa gobyerno ang may kapangyarihan para maibsan ang dadanasin na hirap ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, made these remarks after a recent report from DOST-PAGASA on the current “Very Strong” El Niño active in the country between September and December 2026.
The impact will persist until early 2027, with PAGASA warning of increased risks of agricultural dry spells, drought, water-supply stress, and threats to food security.
The senator said the province-by-province preparedness plan should map out at-risk areas, available irrigation water, crops already planted, fishing and aquaculture communities that may need support, the officials responsible for responding, and the assistance that can be delivered before losses occur.
He also urged the DA and NIA to accelerate the repair and rehabilitation of irrigation systems, particularly in drought-prone areas, while ensuring the timely distribution of drought-tolerant seeds and other agricultural inputs and identifying reliable water sources for farming communities that may be affected by prolonged dry conditions.
To prevent farmers and fisherfolk from falling deeper into debt because of El Niño-related income losses, the lawmaker said the government must prepare rapid crop-loss assessments, affordable credit, insurance support, and recovery assistance for affected families.
“Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, dapat ang gobyerno ang maging sandalan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Hindi sana sila umasa sa mga loan shark na magsasamantala at aabusuhin ang kanilang pangangailangan. Tayo sa gobyerno ang dapat nilang maging sandigan, lalo na sa mga susunod na buwan,” he stressed.
The senator, who has been leading the budget deliberations of agriculture- and fisheries-concerned agencies, urged BFAR to closely monitor fishing grounds, inland waters, and coastal areas that may be affected by prolonged heat and changing water conditions, and to prepare appropriate assistance for fisherfolk whose livelihoods may be disrupted.
He also said there must be a public dashboard for El Niño preparedness that provides regular updates on drought risk, water availability, irrigation-system status, affected agricultural areas and communities, government interventions, assistance delivered, and reported income and production losses.
The dashboard would enable national agencies, LGUs, farmers’ and fisherfolk organizations, and the public to track the delivery of interventions and ensure that assistance reaches communities that need it most.
Pangilinan likewise seconded calls to reactivate the Presidential Task Force on El Niño.
He added that the Senate could also convene an oversight hearing to discuss the proposed reactivation of the task force and assess the government’s preparedness and response measures.
Protecting the country’s agriculture and fisheries sectors from the impact of the El Niño phenomenon is, ultimately, about protecting the food supply and welfare of Filipinos, the lawmaker stressed.
“Kapag pinabayaan natin ang ating mga food producers, sapul na naman ang presyo at supply ng pagkain. Mas lalong mahal na bilihin na naman ang haharapin ng ating mga kapwa, kaya ngayon pa lang, dapat kumikilos na ang national government at mga LGUs,” he said.