Courtesy: Riskline
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has resources under its 2026 budget for El Niño interventions, with further assistance proposed for 2027 to sustain food production, protect farmers’ and fisherfolk’s incomes, and keep food affordable.
DA Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols A. Manalo explained the funding during Wednesday’s House Committee on Agriculture and Food inquiry into El Niño preparedness under House Resolution (HR) No. 967.
As Manalo discussed the DA’s P61.99-billion response plan, committee chairman Mark Enverga of Quezon asked whether the funding being cited was already available.
“So, just for clarification, this is available?” Enverga asked.
“Yes, sir, this is chargeable to 2026,” Manalo replied. The discussion identified the DA’s 2026 budget under the General Appropriations Act as a funding source for the response.
The DA revealed its P61.99-billion consolidated action plan in a statement on October 19. The proposed package includes P6.2 billion already released under the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Program.
For 2027, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. had cited a proposed P10-billion allocation for the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk program, according to the Presidential Communications Office in an October 5 statement. The proposed support is subject to enactment of the 2027 budget.
Manalo said the DA leads the food security cluster under the government’s interagency response.
“We are aligning responses in relation to the three outcomes,” he said.
For crops, he identified P35 billion mainly for production inputs, including seeds, planting materials and fertilizers.
“This is actually the bulk of the budget, 35 billion,” Manalo said.
Water management measures included constructing and rehabilitating irrigation systems, solar-powered irrigation facilities and small water impounding projects. Cloud seeding involved the Bureau of Soils and Water Management in partnership with DOST-PAGASA and the Philippine Air Force.
Manalo cited Pantabangan and Bohol in his cloud-seeding update and sought further funds to continue the operations. “We are requesting additional funding,” he said.
The DA’s October 19 statement had identified P371 million in unfunded proposed interventions, including cloud seeding and measures against the red-striped soft scale insect affecting sugarcane.
Support for livestock and poultry included animal distribution and veterinary products. Fisheries measures covered fingerlings and fish cages.
Another objective, Manalo said, was “to reduce or minimize income losses” among affected farmers and fisherfolk. He cited crop insurance, alongside disaster financing through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
For fuel and transport support under UPLIFT, Manalo cited around P3 billion, divided into P1 billion for farmers’ fuel, P1 billion for fisherfolk’s fuel and P1 billion for trucker support.
Consumer measures covered market surveillance, price monitoring, logistics and transport support, and Kadiwa ng Pangulo caravans.
The department also presented maps of rice areas vulnerable to drought and irrigation water shortages during January-March, alongside an inventory of operational and partially operational water impounding and small-scale irrigation facilities. The committee discussed making the materials available online.
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