Marcos orders DA: Revive El Niño task force

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to revive the inter-agency El Niño Task Force to address the possible impact of the drought on the agriculture sector.

In a recent interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez disclosed that Marcos gave the directive after the DA submitted its report on the agency’s preparation to minimize the damage of the dry spell to the farm sector.

“The instruction of the President is for us to be prepared. That’s why we are preparing for mitigating measures in case El Niño affects the country. We reactivated our El Niño Task Force,” Estoperez said.

He added that as agriculture secretary, Marcos also directed concerned agencies, including the National Irrigation Administration and Bureau of Soils and Water Management, to prepare for El Niño.

“The reactivation of the task force is necessary for us to be able to harmonize our actions, especially in vulnerable areas and those areas where we source mainly our agricultural production,” Estoperez said.

The El Niño Task Force will be composed of agriculture undersecretaries and assistant secretaries and various agencies and bureaus, according to the DA spokesman.

“We know that every time we have calamities, whether it’s El Niño or typhoons, the agriculture sector is always affected, so we need to prepare year in and year out,” he said.

In an earlier interview, Estoperez said the El Niño phenomenon is expected to affect palay production as many farmlands start to dry up ahead of the expected drought in the second half of this year.

“The effect on the agriculture production will depend on the extent of the El Niño phenomenon, but we are preparing the necessary contingencies in case the situation worsens,” he added.

Rice inventory will further dwindle if rice farmers, especially those in rain-fed areas, will not be able to plant because of El Niño, according to the DA official.

He warned that the spike in retail price of the grain will persist amid high farm gate prices and the upward trend in imported rice.

He underscored the need for rain-fed palay farms to shift to more resilient crops once drought hits the country.

“Rain-fed areas are vulnerable to El Niño because of the lack of access to the irrigation system. What we can do is to provide intervention on the change of calendar on the planting season or change of crops,” Estoperez said.

He added that the DA had already directed its regional offices to visit areas vulnerable to drought and come up with recommendations to support the farmers.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned that El Niño would be experienced starting this June or July.

Angat water level drops

Amid this development, National Water Resources Board (NWRB) executive director Sevillo David Jr. said the level of Angat Dam is expected to reach its minimum operating level of 180 meters this June as water from the reservoir continues to drop amid the dry season.

“At present, the level of Angat Dam drops 0.25 to 0.30 centimeters daily amid the high temperature,” David said in a radio interview.

As of 6 a.m. yesterday, the water level of Angat Dam fell to 198.83 meters from 199.13 meters last Tuesday or 0.30 meters less.

“Based on our projection and rainfall forecast from PAGASA, it will reach (180 meters) by June or July,” David said.

Despite the drop in the level of Angat Dam, it is still 10.03 meters above its rule curve elevation of 188.80 meters. The rule curve elevation is the level of the dam that enables it to fulfill its functions .– Delon Porcalla