DA 7 proposes a P48.7M El Niño mitigation budget

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture-Region 7 (DA-7) has proposed a P48.7-million mitigation budget for El Niño in Central Visayas for next year.

In an interview yesterday, DA-7 Regional Technical Director Joel Elumba said the fund had already been proposed to the DA national office and would still be released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Elumba, the agency's focal person for El Niño, said the fund should already be available as soon as early next year.

Bohol province is to get bulk of the proposed budget at P22.9 million. Cebu will get P13.8 million; Negros Oriental, P7.7 million; and Siquijor, P3.9 million.

According to Elumba, the agency has sourced fund for its El Niño mitigation programs in the fourth quarter this year worth P49.97 million from its regular budget as no separate budget for such purpose had been allotted this year.

Of that budget, Bohol is getting P27.7 million, Cebu has a P10.8-million share, Negros Oriental has P7.2 million and Siquijor is getting P3.5 million.

Earlier, Regional Executive Director Angel Enriquez said DA-7 has a budget of P1.1 billion for 2015. According to Elumba, DA-7's budget for 2016 might increase by 10-15%.

Elumba said among the mitigating measures included in the proposed El Niño budget include the distribution of seeds and other planting materials, procurement of hybrid rice seeds, health program for livestock and poultry, irrigation projects and cloud seeding operations. He added the agency is also looking into stocking seeds for farmers.

The DA official said the National Economic and Development Authority in Region 7, together with other agencies, created an El Niño road map that pushes for water conservation measures, use of drought tolerant varieties of crops, repair of irrigation facilities and diversification of the farming system.

Effects

The official also pointed out the El Niño-induced dry spell is seen to decrease rice production in Central Visayas specifically in Bohol which accounts for 70% of the region's rice output.

"In terms of supply, that will be compensated by supply from other regions," he said.

He noted that based on the forecast of weather bureau PAGASA, hotter weather brought by the El Niño will be experienced by January to February next year.

Fortunately, he said, the recent occasional rain had helped water levels in dams stay stable, making it capable to irrigate farm lands.

Moreover, Elumba also urged farmers to seek help from their municipal agriculture offices (MAOs) to insure their crops with the state-owned Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. amid the prevailing El Niño to protect their income.

He also reiterated his call to farmers to diversify, meaning they have to plant many kinds of crops especially those that are drought-tolerant.

He added the regional office has been preparing for El Niño's effects since last year.

The mitigation plan is part of the order of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala to DA regional offices to draft comprehensive mechanisms aimed at making the agriculture industry resilient to climate change.

PAGASA has said the El Niño may intensify through the end of this year and well into next. (FREEMAN)