Villar raps DA officials for relaxed attitude on El Niño

Senate President Pro Tempore Manuel Villar Jr. scored yesterday officials of the Department of Agriculture for "belittling" the possible onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon.

"It does not help any when officials keep on making pronouncements that the coming El Niño will only be a mild one," said Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on food and agriculture.

Villar explained that PAG-ASA’s estimates of a 70-percent probability of a "mild episode" based on data from international weather experts, should not lead agriculture officials to be complacent.

"We must brace ourselves for the worst case scenario and be prepared rather than take it easy," said Villar. He added that the apparent lack of a "sense of urgency" by some officials may be the reason why the release of funds to combat El Niño are delayed. The El Niño national action team has placed total El Niño preparation expenditures at P832.53 million.

Villar pointed out that since the livelihood of millions of Filipinos involved in agriculture as well as the country’s food security are at stake, every effort must be made to give priority to the coming El Niño.

The global climate phenomenon is expected to hit the country in the third quarter of the year, although its initial effects are beginning to be felt in several provinces of the country.

Villar said an El Niño occurrence may result in a five to 20-percent decrease in rainfall. During its last occurrence in 1997-1998, it led to a 6.6-percent dip in the country’s agricultural output.

"Let us not be caught flat-footed this time and act with urgency on this matter," Villar said.