Chiz asks gov’t to seek long-term solution to El Niño to ensure food supply

Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero (Chiz Escudero’s Facebook page)

LEGAZPI CITY — Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero warned of a grim scenario for the agriculture sector due to El Niño phenomenon which is affecting the country’s food supply.

Escudero said in an emailed statement reaching the Philippines News Agency Saturday, that with the Philippine population expected to hit 111 million in 2020, the government should put serious thought into coming up with long-term solutions to the problem of El Niño.

“We can no longer afford to be near-sighted about this. The problem of El Niño is ultimately a problem of food security because it is a perennial threat to our agriculture sector,” he said.

The Bicolano lawmaker said that unless the government shows some foresight, the results of this year’s El Niño conditions could lead to a huge food supply problem in the country.

Citing a Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) report, Escudero said this year’s El Niño will be as bad as the 1997 and 1998 events, when the Philippines experienced severe weather storms and floods.

Rainfall volume will be 50-60-percent lower by October, the PAGASA said, putting 140,000 hectares of rice lands in three Central Luzon provinces at risk due to insufficient water supply.

He said the dry spell would create an adverse conditions for the millions of farmers nationwide, unless the government should immediately draw up a contingency plan that will help them survive and handle El Nino’s impact on their livelihood.

Among the mitigating measures he recommended is the establishment and expansion — including upgrading — of irrigation and storage facilities in key agricultural hubs in the country.

The dry spell, according to him, would affect the rice harvest in Central Luzon,which is expected to drop by 75,000 MT due to inadequate rain and lack of irrigation this year.

At least 20 percent of the national rice production comes from the region.

In Bicol, the dry spell might affect some 4,000 hectares of irrigated riceland once the El Niño condition worsens, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

The NIA report said that for the first cropping season this year, farmers complained of either low production or they suffered a total crop failure due to water shortage spawned by the dry spell.

“A concrete and sustainable plan to combat El Nino will ensure that food supply will not be disrupted, especially that our population continues to grow,” he said.

The Philippine population is seen to hit nearly 112 million by 2020 and 141 million by 2040, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board.