Kiko Pangilinan

Senator Francis “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, Proposed Senate Resolution No. 515, filed on July 14, underscored the need to determine the preparedness of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and other concerned agencies to provide “timely and adequate assistance” to the affected communities.

“RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, as it is hereby resolved, to direct the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the readiness of the country’s agriculture sector for the 2026 to 2027 El Niño, with the end in view of protecting farmers and fisherfolk, securing the country’s food supply, and ensuring timely and adequate government action,” it read.

The senator and chair of the Senate’s agriculture panel cited in the resolution international climate experts, who warned that the ongoing El Niño can bring about “record levels of intensity” of droughts, floods, extreme heat, and other severe weather and climate conditions worldwide.

In the Philippines, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasts that a “strong” El Niño may persist from the August-September-October 2026 season through the first half of 2027.

“Napakalaking dagok na naman ito sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda, pati na rin sa ating mga mamimili. Sa bawat hirap na dinadanas sa sakahan at sa ating fishing grounds, dagdag pasanin na naman sa ating mga kababayan dahil magkukulang ang supply ng pagkain at mamahal ang bilihin sa merkado,” Pangilinan explained.

“Maghihintay pa ba tayo kung kailan andiyan na ang problema? Kailangan nating umaksyon ngayon na. Kailangan ng sapat na preparasyon, tulong, at suporta ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda para hindi nila pasanin mag-isa ang hirap na dala ng El Niño,” he added. “Dapat maging handa ang gobyerno na rumesponde at gumawa ng mga hakbang para sa mga pangmatagalang solusyon laban sa climate crisis.”

PAGASA’s latest projections showed that 49 provinces may experience dry spells while 29 provinces may experience dry conditions by the end of the year. Prolonged dry spells and drought are also highly likely during the first half of 2027.

The DA has likewise warned that a strong El Niño could reduce national rice production by up to 700,000 metric tons, putting the country’s rice supply, farmers’ incomes, and food-price stability at risk.

Furthermore, the resolution said that “reduced rainfall and declining water availability may disrupt irrigation service, delay planting, reduce crop, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture production, raise production costs, lower the income of farmers and fisherfolk, and push food prices higher.”

“There is, therefore, a need to determine whether the government’s plans, budget, and interventions are sufficient, properly targeted, and ready for implementation before El Niño becomes more severe, particularly in relation to irrigation and water management, seeds and planting schedules, crop insurance, credit assistance, livestock and fisheries support, and food supply contingency measures,” the resolution stated.