(Photo of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Agriculture Office)
MANILA – Senator Francis Pangilinan on Monday called for the creation of a public El Niño dashboard that would allow farmers, fisherfolk and local governments to monitor drought risks, water availability, agricultural losses and government assistance.
Pangilinan said the platform should provide regular updates on irrigation systems, affected farms and communities, aid already distributed, and reported production and income losses.
He said publicly available information could help authorities determine whether government interventions are reaching vulnerable communities before livelihoods are severely affected.
“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,” Pangilinan said.
His proposal comes as the agriculture sector prepares for the effects of strengthening El Niño conditions. Pangilinan has also recently raised the need for measurable government support for farmers amid the threat of severe dry conditions.
Aside from the dashboard, Pangilinan proposed province-level preparedness plans identifying drought-prone areas, irrigation water availability, crops already planted and fishing and aquaculture communities that may need assistance.
He also urged faster rehabilitation of irrigation systems, early distribution of drought-tolerant seeds and other farm inputs, and identification of alternative water sources.
For farmers and fisherfolk who suffer losses, Pangilinan called for faster damage assessments, affordable credit, insurance and recovery assistance.
He also said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources should monitor fishing grounds, inland waters and coastal areas that could be affected by prolonged heat and changing water conditions.
Pangilinan backed the proposed reactivation of the Presidential Task Force on El Niño and said the Senate could conduct an oversight hearing to review government preparedness and response measures.
He warned that inadequate support for food producers could eventually affect food supply and prices.
