A farmer contorts to plant rice seedlings at a rice paddy in Bagac, Bataan to produce the staple food of the Filipinos. The farmgate price of palay has dropped to P8 per kilo in some parts of Central Luzon, which may force some farmers to stop planting rice.
Photo by Jonas Reyes for DAILY TRIBUNE
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday ahas reactivated the El Niño task force as the possible severe weather condition may affect the country’s rice production, cutting it by up to 700,000 metric tons.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that the El Niño condition might continue until the next few months, raising concerns over food security and the income of farmers and fisherfolk.
"It is imperative that we put in place interventions that mitigate the impact of El Niño on agriculture, the livelihoods of farmers, fisherfolk, and others in the value chain, as well as its adverse effects on food supply, prices, and consumers," he said.
He added that the DA has begun implementing measures to lessen the effects of the weather disturbance, including cloud seeding operations, solar-powered irrigation systems, revised planting schedules, and crop diversification programs.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier projected a 92% chance of a moderate to strong El Niño developing in the fourth quarter of 2026 and lasting into early 2027.
The 2023-2024 El Niño caused ₱57.78 billion in agricultural losses nationwide, the biggest ever recorded agricultural damage in history wherein rice, corn, high-value crops, coconut, cassava, and fisheries sector were adversely affected.
The DA stated that aside from agriculture, the El Niño could affect the prices of food and the stability of supplies in the market.
The Philippine Statistics Authority recorded a decrease of 2.2% in the whole agricultural output of the country in 2025 due to the effects of the drought.
The government is currently preparing for the possible effect of the super El Niño to ensure that there is enough food supply and protection of the livelihood of the Filipinos who rely on the agricultural sector.
