Senators urge Marcos to declare state of calamity in Super El Niño-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines – Twenty senators on Monday, November 9, have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity in areas affected or threatened by the Super El Niño, allowing access to funds to combat the weather phenomenon’s impact on the country.

Under Republic Act No. 10121, the declaration of a state of calamity mandates remedial measures such as the imposition of a price ceiling on basic necessities and commodities, monitoring and prevention of hoarding and profiteering activities, programming of funds for the repair and upgrading of public infrastructure, and the granting of no-interest loans to affected communities.

Upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the senators, through Proposed Senate Resolution No. 765, urged the President to declare a state of calamity to address challenges being faced primarily by the agricultural sector.

Among those who signed the resolution were Senate President Win Gatchalian, Senate President Pro Tempore Tito Sotto, and senators Kiko Pangilinan, Migz Zubiri, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, JV Ejercito, Lito Lapid, Joel Villanueva, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Ping Lacson, Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Bong Go, Camille Villar, and Mark Villar.

According to the Department of Agriculture, the country has reported P6.87 billion in agricultural losses across 249,028 hectares as of September 26 — nearly half of the recorded losses during the 2023-2024 El Niño.

“Planting season ngayon sa ating mga palayan at kailangan ng tubig. Kailangan mag-plant din tayo ng mga remedial measure tulad ng pag-impose ng price ceilings at laban sa overpricing, profiteering, at hoarding,” Pangilinan said.

(It’s planting season in our rice fields, and we need water. We also need to plant remedial measures, such as imposing price ceilings and policies against overpricing, profiteering, and hoarding)

On November 5, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced that a very strong El Niño was present in the tropical Pacific Ocean and is expected to persist until the first half of 2027.

According to PAGASA, the weather phenomenon will potentially reach its peak by the end of 2026, increasing the likelihood of rainfall deficits and, consequently, raising the odds of dry spells and drought in the country.

“Based on the latest drought assessment, five provinces experienced meteorological drought, 11 provinces were under dry spell, and 10 provinces experienced dry conditions in October 2026,” PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said in a statement.

The Senate resolution stated that while more than a hundred cities and municipalities have declared a state of calamity, the Department of Agriculture has managed to provide aid to only 2.53 million out of 11.12 million target beneficiaries. This means only one in five farmers are getting the help they need amid drought and dry conditions.

According to the senators, around P39 billion is available under the country’s disaster response fund. – Rappler.com