Philippines Allocates P6.2 Billion for Fertilizer, Fuel Aid Amid El Niño Fears

MANILA, Philippines – The government is set to distribute P6.2 billion worth of fertilizer and fuel assistance to help cushion the impacts of the global oil crisis and El Niño on farmers and fisherfolk. The fund is under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport, or UPLIFT, a comprehensive response to energy security and livelihood needs amid the Middle East conflict. There is no identified number yet of beneficiary farmers and fishers, according to Department of Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa. To ensure good yield, much of the fertilizer aid will be distributed to places less affected by El Niño. “One of the things that DA is really going to do is to maximize yield in areas not affected by El Niño,” De Mesa said in a press briefing on Wednesday, September 9. De Mesa said the full impact of El Niño on crops and prices will not be felt until the first semester of 2027, and that these measures are preparatory before El Niño develops into a more severe state by the end of 2026. “If the fund is released in October, it works exactly as support during El Niño,” said De Mesa. The Department of Agriculture is also requesting an additional P10 billion in 2027 to augment cash assistance for farmers and fishers, in anticipation of El Niño impacts. Must Read ‘Supersized’ El Niño may become strongest ever recorded, UN says No impact on rice production, prices yet The agriculture sector was left reeling from the effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat and past tropical cyclones, incurring production losses worth P4.38 billion. The palay sector lost P2 billion. “Again, we do not see impact on rice prices because, in terms of volume, this is within our estimated losses every year because of typhoons, flooding, and other calamities,” De Mesa explained. Estimated losses in rice production ranged from 500,000 to 600,000 metric tons, said De Mesa. The P2 billion worth of damage in the palay sector is “about only 70,000 metric tons of losses.” In a bid to curb prices and support local production, the DA said it will not allow imports of high-grade rice in the meantime. According to reports, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. talked with the rice industry to import only 25% (and above) broken rice. – Rappler.com Quotes translated to English for brevity.