Senator Francis Pangilinan on Monday proposed a public El Niño dashboard that would allow farmers, fisherfolk and local governments to track drought risks, water availability, production losses and government assistance as dry conditions intensify.
The proposed platform would provide regular updates on irrigation systems, affected agricultural areas and communities, assistance already delivered, and reported income and production losses.
Pangilinan said making the information publicly accessible would help determine whether government interventions are reaching communities before livelihoods are severely affected.
“May babala na tayo. Dapat ngayon pa lang naghahanda na tayo, hindi kung kelan tuyo na ang bukid at wala nang mahuling isda saka tayo kikilos (We already have a warning. We should prepare now, not wait until farms are dry and there are no fish to catch before acting),” he said.
The call follows the Sept. 23 advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which said a strong El Niño is active and could intensify into a very strong event during the September-to-December period and persist through the first half of 2027.
PAGASA said El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, including dry spells and drought in some areas.
Alongside the dashboard, Pangilinan proposed province-by-province preparedness plans identifying areas at risk, available irrigation water, crops already planted and fishing and aquaculture communities that may require assistance.
The plans should also specify which government offices are responsible for responding and what assistance can be deployed before losses occur.
“Hindi natin kayang pigilan ang El Niño pero kaya nating bawasan ang epekto nito sa ating mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at mamimili (We cannot stop El Niño, but we can reduce its impact on our farmers, fisherfolk and consumers),” Pangilinan said.
He also pressed for faster repair and rehabilitation of irrigation systems in drought-prone areas, timely distribution of drought-tolerant seeds and other farm inputs, and early identification of alternative water sources.
For affected producers, Pangilinan said the government should prepare rapid crop-loss assessments, affordable credit, insurance and recovery assistance to keep farmers and fisherfolk from resorting to loan sharks after income losses.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources should likewise monitor fishing grounds, inland waters and coastal areas that could be affected by prolonged heat and changing water conditions, he said.
Pangilinan also backed the proposed reactivation of the Presidential Task Force on El Niño and said the Senate could hold an oversight hearing to assess preparations and response measures.
He warned that failure to protect food producers could eventually spill over to consumers through tighter supply and higher prices.
“Kapag pinabayaan natin ang ating mga food producers, sapul na naman ang presyo at supply ng pagkain (If we neglect our food producers, food prices and supply will again be hit),” Pangilinan said. (PNA)
