MANILA – Senators Francis Pangilinan and Mark Villar on Wednesday called for stronger government accountability and coordinated measures to protect the country’s food security amid the looming threat of a “very strong” El Niño.
Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, called for the establishment of a publicly accessible online dashboard to monitor El Niño response funds, government interventions, and their results.
In a statement, Pangilinan said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, through the Office of Civil Defense and the concerned agencies, should maintain “a single, coordinated El Niño action plan with named leads, measurable targets, and regular public reporting.”
The proposed dashboard would provide updates on weather forecasts, damage assessments, water conditions, funding allocations, supply inventories and price-control measures, as well as track fund utilization and the delivery of assistance to affected communities.
Pangilinan also called for the declaration of a state of calamity or imminent disaster in affected areas, prepositioning of relief supplies, livelihood assistance, price controls, action against hoarding and profiteering, and measures to protect the country’s water supply.
He cited Republic Act 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, which requires government agencies to report on disaster preparedness funds and the results of anticipatory interventions.
“As I have said, I will seek the updated funding and implementation reports before plenary and pursue oversight to ensure that commitments made during the budget hearing translate into assistance on the ground,” he said.
Meanwhile, Villar called for closer coordination among national agencies and local government units to prevent disruptions in food production and distribution, rising prices and shortages that could hurt vulnerable households.
Agricultural damage from El Niño reached PHP6.8 billion as of October, with 109 areas declaring a state of calamity, according to government records.
The Department of Agriculture has also warned that rice production could decline by about 700,000 metric tons, equivalent to 3.5 percent of annual output.
“Food security is not only about producing enough food. It is also about ensuring that food reaches every Filipino household at reasonable prices, especially during times of crisis,” Villar said in a separate statement.
He urged authorities to closely monitor weather forecasts, food production, supply levels, and market prices to identify areas at risk of shortages and implement timely interventions. (Leonel Abasola/PNA)
