DA eyes 'scientific' approach vs super El Niño; nearly P10-B fund allotted for farmers, fisherfolk

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Thursday that it will adopt a "scientific" strategy to mitigate the impact of a potentially record-breaking El Niño expected in the coming months. Following the El Niño occurrence from 2023 to 2024, the department stated it is now better prepared. "In every area, we need to provide thematic, location-specific interventions. In the past, we had a one-size-fits-all approach for all areas. Now, our approach to El Niño is more scientific because this will be a very, very strong El Niño," said DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa in a press briefing. According to state weather bureau PAGASA, the upcoming El Niño could last until March or even June. Around 40 provinces are expected to experience lesser rainfall during the dry spell and drought. By January, the number of affected provinces could double. Temperatures are also expected to rise, ranging from a minimum of 3 degrees Celsius to a high of 38.7 degrees Celsius. The DA plans to map out areas expected to be affected by the prolonged and intense drought. "First, we really need to map out which areas will be severely affected and which areas might not be affected. That's because we have four types of climate in the Philippines, and not all [areas] will be affected," De Mesa explained. The Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Western Visayas are among the areas expected to be hit hard. The department will focus on optimizing agricultural productivity in areas less likely to be affected by El Niño. Requests for additional support for fertilizer, fuel assistance, and other inputs are being pursued, which will be concentrated in unaffected areas and on commodities available there. The DA reiterated that P6.2 billion has been released by the Department of Budget and Management for fertilizer and fuel assistance in preparation for El Niño, under the UPLIFT program. Furthermore, the DA has requested an additional P3.5 billion to fund solar irrigation projects, targeting major tributaries in affected regions.