DA braces for P20B in agri losses from El Niño
Barren slopes and dead trees normally submerged below the tree line, which marks the Angat Dam’s normal capacity, become visible as water levels dropped to 151.45 masl in this photo taken on July 23, 2026. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News MANILA — El Niño could cause P20 billion in agricultural losses across 350,000 hectares of land, the Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.
The scale of the potential losses prompted Sen. Francis Pangilinan to urge the government to declare a state of national disaster.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said “relatively strong El Niño” in 2023 to 2024 caused P16 billion in losses.
“With values up now and [the coming] Super El Niño, losses will be much higher,” he told the Senate Finance Committee during the DA’s budget hearing.
He said high temperatures and low rainfall during El Niño could affect between 2.8 million to 4.8 million farmers and fisherfolk.
Rice production is also seen to go down by from 700,000 to a million tons, which will add to the 63,000 tons in losses already recorded this year.
He said the Philippines will need to get 863,000 tons of the staple to ensure supply and a buffer stock during El Niño.
Tiu Laurel said the DA is fast-tracking the deployment of solar water irrigation projects and seeking more funding for solar-powerd pumps and irrigation as well as paddle wheels for fish ponds.
“More money into small water impounding will really benefit our farmers and fisherfolks,” he also said.
He said digging deeper ponds and installing pond liners for water retention will also help prepare farmers and fisherfolk for future incidences of El Niño, which he said is becoming more frequent.
Pangilinan, who is sponsoring the DA’s budget, urged the executive to declare a state of national calamity.
That would make emergency funds available, implement price freezes on basic goods, and allow no-interest loans to sectors most affected ny El Niño.