Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. Photo courtesy of Kiko Pangilinan/Facebook.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan sought a Senate inquiry into the government’s preparations for a worsening El Niño that could threaten farms, fisheries and the country’s food supply.
Pangilinan filed Senate Resolution No. 515 asking the agriculture committee to examine whether concerned agencies had enough funding, programs and contingency measures to respond to the weather pattern.
The inquiry will cover the Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Lawmakers will assess the agencies’ plans for irrigation and water conservation, distribution of seeds, credit support, crop insurance and other measures intended to prevent disruptions in food production.
Pangilinan said the government needed to act before severe conditions affected agricultural communities. He stressed that farmers and fisherfolk should receive timely assistance instead of being left to absorb the impact of prolonged heat and limited rainfall.
He warned that production losses in farms and fishing areas could also hurt consumers by reducing available food and pushing market prices higher.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier said El Niño could become stronger by August and continue until the first months of 2027.
Pangilinan cited Pagasa projections showing that 49 provinces could experience dry spells, while 29 others could face dry conditions before the end of the year.