The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday it is better prepared to cushion the impact of a looming “very strong” El Niño on the farm sector, drawing lessons from the 2024 dry spell.
PAGASA said the extreme weather condition could develop between September and December and may persist through the first half of 2027.
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the agency has already put in place science-based and early mitigation measures, including mapping areas vulnerable to drought, monitoring climate conditions and maximizing production in less affected areas.
The DA is also preparing fuel subsidies, fertilizer support, cash aid and other interventions for qualified farmers and fishers.
De Mesa said the government is projecting palay production losses of about 700,000 metric tons under the expected El Niño, lower than the roughly one million metric tons lost in 2024.
He added that improved water levels in major dams following recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon could help sustain irrigation in drought-prone areas.
Areas considered vulnerable to extreme heat include parts of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, eastern and western Luzon, Mindoro and Western Visayas, particularly Iloilo.
The DA said the timing of the El Niño peak would also be critical for the dry cropping season. De Mesa said conditions would be more manageable if the most intense heat occurs when palay water demand is lower.
The agency is also ready to distribute drought-resistant rice seeds upon request from local farmers.
Meanwhile, the DA said continued rice importation remains part of the government’s strategy to keep rice prices stable amid possible production losses.
As of Sept. 17, imported rice arrivals reached 3.89 million metric tons, exceeding the 3.38 million metric tons recorded for all of 2025, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry.
