Philippines Allocates P6.2 Billion for El Niño Aid to Farmers and Fisherfolk

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced the release of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) amounting to P6.2 billion to provide aid to farmers and fisherfolk who will be affected by El Niño. This funding will be allocated towards fertilizer assistance, fuel assistance for farmers and fisherfolk, and fuel subsidies for agricultural transport. At a briefing, Arnel V. de Mesa, DA spokesperson and assistant secretary for special concerns and official development assistance, told reporters that the SARO, received on Sept. 9, forms a part of the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport program. He noted that rules for the distribution of cash assistance will be announced later, with implementation set within the year. Mr. de Mesa said the DA is requesting an additional P3.5 billion for solar irrigation projects, with approval expected by the fourth quarter. Mr. de Mesa said the DA is prepared to deal with a very strong El Niño, which was forecast by the government weather service, known as PAGASA, to begin this month and run until early 2027. He said the DA is expecting agricultural losses from El Niño of 700,000 metric tons (MT). In the 2024 El Niño, losses to the palay (unmilled rice) crop were 1 million MT. “The DA is ready to respond to El Niño, including the distribution of varieties that can (deal with) a possibly strong El Niño,” Mr. de Mesa told reporters. “There are a lot of interventions in line, and they’re all ready, so we can say that we’re ready in the Department of Agriculture,” he added. — Marron Joshua F. Mendoza