Manila:Senators Francis Pangilinan and Mark Villar have called for increased government accountability and coordinated measures to protect the country's food security in response to the anticipated "very strong" El Niño.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senator Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, proposed the creation of a publicly accessible online dashboard. This dashboard would track El Niño response funds, government interventions, and their outcomes. He emphasized the need for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, alongside the Office of Civil Defense and other relevant agencies, to maintain a unified El Niño action plan featuring designated leads, measurable targets, and regular public updates.
The proposed dashboard aims to provide updates on weather forecasts, damage assessments, water conditions, funding allocations, supply inventories, and price-control measures. It would also monitor fund utilization and the distribution of aid to affected communities. Pangilinan suggested declaring a state of calamity or imminent disaster in affected regions, prepositioning relief supplies, offering livelihood assistance, imposing price controls, combating hoarding and profiteering, and safeguarding the nation's water supply.
Pangilinan referenced Republic Act 12287, the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, which mandates government agencies to report on disaster preparedness funds and the effectiveness of anticipatory interventions. He committed to seeking updated funding and implementation reports in the Senate and ensuring oversight to guarantee that budgetary commitments translate into tangible assistance.
Senator Villar, meanwhile, called for enhanced coordination between national agencies and local government units to avert disruptions in food production and distribution, as well as rising prices and shortages that could impact vulnerable households. Government records indicate that agricultural damage from El Niño has reached PHP6.8 billion, with 109 areas declaring a state of calamity. The Department of Agriculture has also warned of a potential decline in rice production by approximately 700,000 metric tons, or 3.5 percent of the annual output.
Villar emphasized that food security involves not only producing sufficient food but also ensuring its availability to all Filipino households at reasonable prices during crises. He urged authorities to closely monitor weather forecasts, food production, supply levels, and market prices to identify areas at risk of shortages and to implement timely interventions.
