To cushion El Niño impact: Capitol readies P53 million aid

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government is rolling out a ?53-million assistance package, including free crop insurance, water pumps and drought-tolerant crops, to help farmers and fishermen prepare for the projected effects of “Super El Niño.”

Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Roldan Saragena said the province has lined up several measures to help agricultural communities cope with expected dry conditions, particularly in production areas vulnerable to water shortages.

The planned interventions have a total allocation of ?53.021 million, Saragena said during a press conference.

He said the provincial government recently gathered municipal and city agriculturists and invited the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to discuss the forecast for the El Niño phenomenon.

Saragena said the effects of El Niño are expected to become more apparent in Cebu toward the end of November and continue through the first semester of 2027.

“The definite nga moigo jud ang El Niño ari na ma-feel ang epekto sa last week of November up to first semestral of 2027,” Saragena said.

One of the province’s initial measures is a massive campaign for the Agri-Fisheries Insurance Program, which provides free insurance coverage to qualified farmers, with the provincial government shouldering the premiums.

Saragena said the program has guidelines on who can avail of the assistance, with farmers owning three hectares or less being prioritized.

The provincial government has allocated P34 million for the insurance program this year, according to Saragena.

Aside from insurance, the province is strengthening household and community food production through its Food Always in the Home (FAITH) Program, which encourages residents to plant vegetables in their homes and in puroks.

The province plans to distribute organic fertilizer, with an initial target of 500 boxes for each local government unit.

Saragena said organic fertilizer can help retain moisture in the soil during periods of limited rainfall.

“The organic fertilizer mura ni’g sponge panahon nga mag uwan mo store ni siya og water unya kung imong yuta rich sa fertilizer, dugay siya mauga,” he said.

The province will also distribute drought-tolerant crops, including mung beans and other vegetable varieties that can withstand hot and dry conditions.

Saragena said the provincial government plans to distribute one million sweet potato cuttings in about two weeks through the Sagip Saka Act.

Water access in agricultural production areas is another focus of the planned interventions. The province, together with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), is preparing to procure water pumps and water tanks with garden hoses.

These will be distributed to production areas, including Dalaguete, Alcoy, Oslob and Argao, Saragena said.

The province also plans to distribute 200-liter plastic drums to support water storage amid the anticipated dry conditions.

Meanwhile, the agriculture office is preparing standby pesticides to address possible pest infestations, particularly those that could affect corn crops during the El Niño period.

Saragena said the province plans to prepare 1,000 bottles of environment-friendly pesticides as part of its measures against pest attacks.

For the fishing sector, the province has already distributed 212 payaw, or fish aggregating devices (FADs), to fisherfolk and plans to add 102 more around the province, equivalent to two sets for each local government unit (LGU). — (FREEMAN)