The El Niño phenomenon has so far caused an estimated PHP5.9 billion in damage to Philippine agriculture, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday.
CROP DAMAGE Rice plants are withered due to the El Niño
phenomenon in the municipality of Patnongon, Antique
on Feb. 1, 2024. The Department of Agriculture said Thursday (May 2, 2024) the damage caused by El Niño to the agriculture sector has reached an estimated P5.9 billion as of April 30, 2024. PNA
"Iyong latest damage natin as of end of April per Bulletin No. 9 ng DA, ang damage is already P5.9 billion, pinakamalaki pa rin is sa rice sector (As per Bulletin No. 9, the damage is already at P5.9 billion as of end of April, with the rice sector incurring the biggest damage) at P3.1 billion,” DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview.
This was followed by production loss in corn worth PHP1.76 billion and high-value crops pegged at P958 million.
De Mesa said the Mimaropa region remained as the most affected area in the country at P1.71 billion, followed by Region 6 (Western Visayas) at PHP1.5 billion, the Cordilleras at P768 million, and Cagayan Valley at P562 million.
He, however, said the 58,000 hectares of rice production area damaged so far is only 2.27 percent of the country’s total area planted for rice, which is over 2 million hectares.
The DA earlier projected around 120,000 hectares of damaged riceland before the onslaught of El Niño.
De Mesa said the early planning, rehabilitation and mitigation measures of the DA, particularly the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), helped ease the effects of the phenomenon.
Aid distribution
To cushion its impacts on farmers and fishers, the DA has provided interventions worth PHP2.18 billion, De Mesa said.
These include the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) worth PHP1.065 billion; and PHP658 million worth of inputs such fertilizers, water pumps and engines that are being distributed through the DA regional field offices, he said.
The DA also provided PHP294.46 million worth of irrigation projects; P77.50 million worth of Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan; P67.93 million worth of indemnification or insurance benefits for farmers; and P65.35 million worth of composting facilities.
Other DA-attached agencies distributed around P8.99 million worth of marine machinery and equipment and P8 million for rice machinery and equipment; P5.19 million worth of coconut seedlings; 66,039 native animals; 616 water pumps; and 111 diversified alternative livelihoods and technologies, among others.
Ten El Niño-affected regions received about P541 million worth of aid, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Thursday.
In its latest update, the NDRRMC Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley), 4-B (Mimaropa), 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), 12 (Soccsksargen), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cordillera Administrative Region received aid consisting of family food packs, rice, fuel, roofing sheets, generators and hygiene kits.
The El Niño phenomenon remains active and expected to persist until May 2024, according to the weather bureau.
At least 131 cities and municipalities across the country have declared a state of calamity due to the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, as most of the areas are experiencing drought.
Earlier, the El Niño Task Force, chaired by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., directed the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to ensure the fire safety of public hospitals and public health facilities.
He added that the BFP "must ensure a safe environment" especially for those seeking healthcare services and for medical-related professionals and workers. PNA
Some 131 local government units (LGU) have declared a state of calamity as the country continues to grapple with the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
Task Force El Niño spokesperson and Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama said the LGUs currently under a state of calamity include Occidental Mindoro, Antique, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and South Cotabato.
“Kalat kalat po iyan sa buong Pilipinas (These LGUs are all over the country),” he told reporters in an interview at Malacañang Palace.
Citing data from the Department of Agriculture, Villarama said El Niño has so far caused
P4.39 billion worth of damage to 77,731 hectares of agricultural lands.
But he said the effects of El Niño this year, in terms of agricultural damage, is still lower compared to the worst El Niño year in history in 1997, wherein 667,000 hectares of land were damaged.
“So if you compare it 77,000, maliit pa po dahil po sa measures na ipinatupad po ng gobyerno before the onset of El Niño (it is still lower because of the mitigation measures of the government before the onset of El Niño),” Villarama said. PNA
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