MANILA(October 21) — With a potentially very strong El Niño threatening crops, water supplies and rural livelihoods, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has proposed a P61.99-billion response plan, but P371 million worth of interventions—including cloud seeding and control of a sugarcane pest outbreak—remain unfunded.
The funding gap comes as the government prepares for prolonged dry spells that could cut agricultural production and threaten farmers’ incomes, raising questions about how quickly critical interventions can be deployed before drought damage worsens.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said early preparation is necessary to help farmers withstand drought, including by providing access to drought-tolerant rice varieties and other appropriate agricultural inputs.
“We need to plan ahead and ensure farmers have the support they need to cope with El Niño, including access to drought-tolerant rice varieties and other appropriate inputs,” Tiu Laurel said Monday.
The plan was presented following a National El Niño Task Force meeting led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang last week.
Of the proposed budget, P6.2 billion had already been released under the government’s Uplift Program early last month. However, interventions worth about P371 million remain unfunded, including cloud seeding operations and measures to control the red-striped soft scale insect affecting sugarcane.
Marcos directed the DA to submit a comprehensive accounting of cloud seeding operations, including the areas covered and corresponding budget allocations.
The President also instructed the department to explore importing drought-resistant rice seeds from India for possible distribution to farmers.
Beyond farm production, Marcos ordered intensified market monitoring to prevent profiteering during El Niño and a location-specific information campaign to inform farmers, fisherfolk and the public about available government assistance. The campaign is to air at least two minutes every hour.
The DA was also tasked with preparing a priority list of beneficiaries to ensure assistance reaches vulnerable communities quickly and fairly. Government agencies were directed to conserve water and energy and accelerate procurement and possible budget realignment, subject to existing rules.
Other livelihood interventions include the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Project LAWA and Binhi, a cash-for-work program supported by DA bureaus responsible for plant industry, fisheries, and soil and water management.
The Department of Labor and Employment also announced the forthcoming launch, in partnership with the DA, of the Trabahong-Dagat and Blue Enterprise Development Program for fisherfolk whose livelihoods may be affected.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has warned that El Niño may intensify into a very strong episode by the end of 2026 and persist through the first half of 2027. The weather phenomenon is expected to bring below-normal rainfall, prolonged dry spells, reduced water supplies and extreme heat in parts of the country.
Tiu Laurel said early intervention is crucial to limiting agricultural losses and protecting farmers’ livelihoods and the country’s food supply.
With P371 million in proposed interventions still unfunded, the plan’s effectiveness will depend on how quickly the government secures the resources needed to implement them.
The DA must also demonstrate that released funds translate into timely support on the ground, particularly for farmers and sugarcane growers facing drought and pest threats before the next harvest is put at risk.
