Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has backed a proposal to declare a state of calamity to mobilize government resources against the worsening effects of El Niño, saying authorities must act quickly as forecasts point to a potentially severe climate event.
Tiu Laurel expressed support for the proposal of Sen. Francis Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, who called for a proactive government response to mounting agricultural damage across five regions.
“I do agree na maganda na magdeclare tayo because from all indications it’s a Super El Niño,” said Tiu Laurel, citing forecasts from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and assessments by climate experts.
“Everybody in the world is saying it so we better act fast,” he added. The agriculture chief said he had not previously considered the senator’s suggestion but described it as a good idea, signaling support for measures that could strengthen the government’s ability to respond to drought-related losses and protect food production.
Pangilinan said declaring a State of Calamity could help secure the resources, institutional support and policy measures needed to address the effects of El Niño before conditions deteriorate further.
He stressed that the government should not wait for agricultural losses to escalate before implementing interventions, particularly as farmers and food producers face the risks associated with prolonged dry conditions.
Pangilinan cited his experience during the 2014-2015 agricultural crisis involving the coconut scale insect, locally known as cocolisap, which affected around two million trees in CALABARZON.
He said the infestation threatened to spread to Region 5, or Bicol, but authorities contained the crisis through interventions and the declaration of a State of Calamity under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.
According to Pangilinan, the declaration helped unlock approximately P500 million in additional support, allowing the government to address the infestation within six months.
The senator offered his office’s assistance in advancing the proposed declaration and urged the agriculture department to work with him in convincing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to approve the measure.
A State of Calamity declaration could provide a stronger framework for coordinating government assistance, although the specific funding, emergency powers and interventions available would depend on applicable laws and implementing decisions.
The DA has drawn up a “worst-case scenario” where around 4.6 million of the estimated 10.4 million farmers and fisherfolk will be impacted by the projected Strong El Niño, and around 1 million metric tons reduction in palay harvest.
Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Christopher Morales said declaring a state of calamity would enable the DA to strengthen contingency planning and implement timely mitigation measures.
“This will allow us to anticipate risks, minimize potential damage, and respond swiftly to areas threatened by the impacts of Super El Niño,” he said.
For the agriculture sector, the priority is to translate climate warnings into timely assistance for affected farmers, protect production capacity and limit potential disruptions to food supply and prices.
