CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to distribute buffer farm inputs to supplement the needs of the farms in the region to address the ill-effects of the El Niño phenomenon in the agriculture sector. 

Department of Agriculture (DA) regional disaster risk reduction and management focal person Leo Peletero said the farm inputs to be distributed include seeds, fertilizers, and organic and inorganic pesticides. 

Peletero assured farmers that they will receive inputs proportional to the size of their land. 

As of Feb. 21, DA has received reports of agricultural damages caused by El Niño from one local government unit in the region, which is Bayawan City in Negros Oriental. 

“Sa pagkakaron nagpaabot pa ta sa final report sa Bayawan sa assessment sa mga damages,” Peletero said during the Kapihan sa PIA in Cebu. 

(At the moment, we are still waiting for the final report from Bayawan on their assessment of the damages.)

He disclosed that with the reactivation of the El Niño Task Force in the region, damage assessment is now being undertaken in the local government units (LGUs). 

DA already has the budget to address the agricultural damages caused by El Niño, said Peletero. 

Once DA receives the damage report from the LGUs, an assessment will immediately be conducted in the affected areas. 

Farming continues

Currently, the water from the spring and impounding systems can sustain the farms in the region. 

 “Padayon gihapon ang pananom kay naa pa ma’y source of water mga spring and impounding system,” said Peletero. 

(Farming still continues as there are still sources of water from the springs and impounding system.)

DA has partnered with the National Irrigation Administration to manage the water sources and inspect the water dams in the region.

Register with PCIC

With the farm lands highly vulnerable to the ill-effects of El Niño, Peletero urged the farmers to get registered with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. 

Registered farms that incurred damages will be compensated based on the result of the damage assessment.

He also encouraged farmers to shift to planting heat-tolerant  crops like monggo, beans, and okra that do not need plenty of water. 

Farmers are also urged to report to their respective local agriculture officer or agriculturist if there are damages in their farms as a result of El Niño.

Rains still possible

Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) clarified that rains are still possible amid the El Niño phenomenon. 

“It doesn’t mean kung naay El Niño, wala na’y pag-ulan,” said PAGASA Visayas Director Al Quiblat. 

(It doesn’t mean when there is El Niño, it will not rain.)

Quiblat explained that during the El Niño phenomenon, the volume of rain is just lower than normal and the hydrological cycle still continues.

According to the monthly climate forum held livestreamed on the PAGASA official Facebook page on Feb. 27, the El Niño phenomenon remains “strong and matured.” 

This means that the phenomenon has already reached its peak, said Quiblat. 

This signifies that there is a low chance its intensity will increase to “very strong” level. 

He added that the public should not be complacent as the impact may be felt between March to May this year.

From April to June, there is a 79 percent chance of transitioning to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral condition and 55 percent chance of developing La Niña by June to August.

ENSO neutral condition is a phenomenon that is neither El Niño nor La Niña. 

This is often associated with typical weather patterns, although there may still be impact from El Niño or La Niña. 

The Kapihan sa PIA in Cebu is livestreamed over the PIA Central Visayas official Facebook page every Wednesday and aired over Radyo Pilipinas Cebu every Saturday. (JJT/PIA 7)