HOUSE Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III on Friday stressed the importance of ensuring that government plans, resources, and interventions are in place to protect farmers, fisherfolk, and the country’s food supply from the looming effects of El Niño as the House Committee on Agriculture and Food this week convened a briefing on the government’s preparedness measures.
Dy said the government must remain ahead of the threat posed by prolonged dry conditions, noting that delayed action could have serious consequences for agricultural production, rural livelihoods, and food security.
“Huwag nating ipagsawalang-bahala ang usapin ng El Niño. Huwag po nating hintayin na maramdaman ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda ang epekto nito bago tayo kumilos. We need to be proactive,” said the Speaker.
“Kailangan nating tiyakin na maaga pa lamang ay nakahanda na ang mga programa, tulong, at mekanismo ng pamahalaan upang maprotektahan ang kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan at ang ating suplay ng pagkain.”
“Ang maayos at maagap na pagtugon ng pamahalaan ay kailangan upang masigurado natin na may pagkain sa hapag ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino, mapanatili ang kabuhayan sa mga kanayunan, at mapalakas ang kakayahan ng ating mga komunidad na makabangon sa harap ng mga hamon ng klima,” he added.
The House Agriculture panel chaired by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga last Wednesday organized a briefing that focused on the plans, programs, and interventions being undertaken by the government’s Task Force El Niño to mitigate the potential impact of the weather phenomenon on the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
In his opening remarks, Enverga said the briefing was held because of the urgency of the issue and upon the instructions of the Speaker. Enverga noted that the Task Force El Niño, reactivated through Executive Order No. 53 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., was tasked to develop a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan and coordinate interventions aimed at increasing the resilience of communities against the effects of El Niño.
He emphasized the risks posed by the phenomenon to the country’s food producers.
“As we all know, the El Niño event poses a serious threat to our agriculture and fisheries sector. The looming dry spell can severely impact rice, corn, high value crops, and fish production threatening not only farmers and fisherfolks livelihoods but also our national food security,” said Enverga.
According to Enverga, lawmakers sought to examine the government’s mitigation plans, intervention strategies, resource allocation, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and the challenges being encountered on the ground.
He pointed out that “our farmers and fisherfolks cannot afford delays. We must ensure that plans, programs, and government interventions are in place to counter the impact of this life and livelihood threatening phenomenon on the most vulnerable sector our farmers and fisherfolk.”
The Speaker from Isabela stressed that the House would continue to work closely with relevant government agencies to ensure that preparedness efforts translate into timely assistance for affected communities.
“Masasabi nating mabisa at epektibo ang ating paghahanda kung mapoprotektahan natin ang mga kababayan nating magsasaka, mangingisda, at mamimili mula sa epekto ng El Niño. Ito po ang layunin ng pagdinig na ito at ito po ang pananagutan nating lahat,” said Dy
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