PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday assured the public that there is enough rice supply in the country despite the ongoing El Niño phenomenon and its lingering effects.
The President, in an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro, reiterated that the government is doing all it can to assist the agricultural sector, which has been heavily affected by the phenomenon.
“Kung ang pag-uusapan natin ay bigas, sapat naman ang ating supply. Hindi kailangang mag-alala ang tao… Sa katotohanan, iyung mga area na may patubig, tumaas pa iyung ating naging ani, iyung tons per hectare natin (If we are talking about rice, there is a steady supply. There is no need to worry about that. In truth, areas that have irrigation have even increased their harvest, the tons per hectare),” Marcos said.
Data from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center show that damage to the agriculture sector due to El Niño has jumped 49.8 percent to P3.94 billion from P2.63 billion last April 1.
The DA attached agency said that as of April 16, equivalent to 66,065 hectares (ha) of areas tended by 77,713 farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao and Soccsksargen have been affected by the weather phenomenon.
This is equivalent to a total volume loss of 162,793 metric tons (MT).
It placed damage to rice at 98,243 MT worth P2.36 billion; high-value crops, 24,102 MT worth P868.84 million; corn, 40,195 MT worth P669.44 million; 102 heads of livestock and poultry worth P6.95 million; and 38 MT of cassava worth P497,900.
Impact on fisheries is felt by 2,261 fisherfolk with P33.83 million worth of damage.
To address the problems caused by the phenomenon, the President said the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is already planning on putting up more dams and impounding ponds in the country to increase water supply, including irrigation water in areas where it is needed, as a long term solution.
For the short term, the government is fast tracking the installation of solar pumps especially in upland non-irrigated areas to boost production.
Marcos said NIA’s goal is to widen irrigation coverage to enable farmers to plant crops, particularly palay, even during the drought season.
EXTREME HEAT
As the agriculture sector continue to suffer due to the drought caused by the El Niño, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said 31 areas, including Quezon City and Pasay City, are forecast to have danger level heat index today.
Forecast to have 45 degrees in heat index are Roxas City in Capiz and Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur.
Expected to have a 44 degrees heat index are Dagupan City in Pangasinan, and Puerto Princesa City and Aborlan town in Palawan.
Ten areas are forecast to have 43 degrees in heat index. These are Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, Echague town in Isabela, Munoz town in Nueva Ecija, Sangley Point in Cavite, Virac town in Catanduanes, Pili town in Camarines Sur, Guian town in Eastern Samar, Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte, Cotabato City in Maguindanao del Norte, and Butuan City in Agusan del Norte.
Pasay City and Quezon City, both in Metro Manila, will feel a heat index of 42 degrees, as well Bacnotan town in La Union, Clark airport in Pampanga, Baler and Casiguran towns in Aurora, Olongapo City in Zambales, Tanauan town in Batangas, Infanta town in Quezon, Calapan town in Oriental Mindoro, Coron town in Palawan, San Jose town in Occidental Mindoro, Masbate City in Masbate, Iloilo City and Dumangas town in Iloilo, and Davao City in Davao del Sur.
A heat index ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius has been classified by PAGASA under the danger level. It said heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely to be experienced by residents, while heat stroke is possible under this condition.
OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
The President said that with one percent of lands in Occidental Mindoro still not irrigated, the government is committed in making sure that the matter is addressed immediately.
Occidental Mindoro has been placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of El Niño, which has already affected the province’s agricultural sector, particularly its rice and onion harvest as well as fishing industry.
The President, accompanied by several of his Cabinet, inspected the effects of El Niño in Occidental Mindoro. He led the distribution of assistance to affected families in Barangay San Roque in the town of San Jose.
In a speech, the President ordered NIA to put up additional irrigation systems in parts of Occidental Mindoro, particularly the towns of San Jose and Magsaysay, to boost agricultural production.
NIA reported that it has deployed three new long-arm backhoes and one wheel-type backhoe to
areas in Occidental Mindoro that need immediate canal clearing and desilting works.
It also said that some 1,200 liters of diesel fuel were also distributed to farmers affected by the drought to subsidize their fuel requirement for diesel-powered water pumps, in addition to 68 solar, diesel and water-powered pumps installed to irrigate 274 hectares of farmlands.
The agency has also constructed 18.06 kilometers of concrete irrigation canal, along with 64 units of canal structures, to improve the delivery of irrigation water. Some 7.6 kilometers of canal was also desilted by the agency to ensure unhampered water delivery and high efficiency of irrigation services to local farmers.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said they have started distributing solar pumps and putting up solar-powered storage systems to assist farmers and fisherfolks and help ensure that their harvests are not wasted or spoiled.
Laurel said the DA is including in their proposed 2025 budget funding for more solar powered pumps and storage systems which are easier to distribute and more practical especially in areas where there are power supply problems like Mindoro.
During the event, the DA provided P3,000 worth of fuel assistance each for nearly 400 beneficiaries and other cash aid under its Rice Farmers Financial Assistance, P5.1 million of aid to 193 farmers under the El Niño Indemnification Fund, and P77.5 million Survival and Recovery Aid loans.
The NIA, on the other hand, provided P7.38 million worth of operations and maintenance subsidy to irrigators’ groups, issued certificate of condonation and exemption worth P18.48 million, and distributed 24 units of solar pump irrigation projects worth P50 million,
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided P5,000 each to 10,000 beneficiaries under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS); and P15,000 each to 13 beneficiaries under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP); while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided P12.9 million worth of cash for work to 2,953 beneficiaries under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), P4.5 million to 94 beneficiaries under its government internship program, and installed fish aggregating devices worth P994,480 under its Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) for 58 beneficiaries.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provided “One Town, One Product Brand Development” packages worth P50,000 to five beneficiaries, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided over P1.55 million worth of assistance to 70 beneficiaries.
The national government also organized a “Serbisyo Caravan” to bring government services closer to Occidental Mindoro residents especially those in far-flung areas, and the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” that offered various products at lower prices, including rice which is sold at P35 per kilo.
Other agencies such as the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), and the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) were also present to provide aid including loans to farmers and fishermen who were affected by the El Niño. — With Victor Reyes
