The Department of Agriculture is preparing up to P45 billion in interventions as El Niño-related agricultural losses climb to P6.87 billion, while moving to strengthen rice reserves and keep imports available as a contingency against a sharper production shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the National Food Authority has been directed to maximize purchases from the ongoing harvest to replenish government warehouses, signaling a push to build stocks before drought conditions potentially constrain domestic supply.
The Office of Civil Defense reported that El Niño has affected more than 249,000 hectares of farmland. A total of 106 cities and municipalities and five provinces—Isabela, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Dinagat Islands and Agusan del Sur—have declared states of calamity.
For now, however, the government sees no immediate need to curb rice imports. Tiu Laurel said wet palay farmgate prices remain at around P16.50 to P20 per kilo, well above the P8 to P12 range recorded during the same period last year.
The DA has nevertheless appealed to importers to moderate rice arrivals during the harvest season to prevent additional pressure on local farmers. Should El Niño materially reduce production, Tiu Laurel said imports remain the government’s fallback option.
The agency is also targeting drought mitigation through cloud seeding, additional seeds and fertilizer where water remains available, and the deployment of solar irrigation systems, pumps and aerators.
Of the P45 billion requested for various interventions, including the El Niño response, P6.2 billion has already been released. Another ap10 billion is expected for solar irrigation, pumps, aerators and biofertilizers, while a separate P10 billion has been allocated for farmer and fisherfolk assistance in 2027.
The DA is maintaining a 75-day rice supply buffer, with 60 days considered manageable under a worst-case scenario. Current buffers stand at 125 days for chicken, 170 days for pork and 90 days for corn.
