Fast-track facilities to lessen La Niña impact – agriculture chief

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has directed the fast-tracking of construction of facilities necessary to minimize the impact of La Niña after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that the phenomenon is expected from this October to January 2025.

Arnel de Mesa, agriculture assistant secretary and spokesman, said at a press conference yesterday that Laurel wants the impounding projects and drying facilities to be completed before the expected La Niña.

“The construction of these projects is being hastened so that hopefully before La Niña comes in, many (impounding facilities and dryers) are already completed,” De Mesa said.

PAGASA has said there is a 70 percent chance of La Niña forming between August and October. La Niña is likely to persist until the first quarter of 2025.

“The priority of the secretary is to complete the post-harvest facilities, which include dryers, rice mills, cold storage and warehouses,” De Mesa said, adding that the National Food Authority (NFA) has a P10-billion budget for the construction of drying facilities.

PAGASA deputy administrator Marcelino Villafuerte has said that above normal rains in the last quarter of 2024, when the main harvest is expected, could adversely affect the agriculture sector.

“The regular and consistent advisory of PAGASA is very important so that the department, together with local government units, regional field offices, National Irrigation Administration, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, is forewarned,” De Mesa said.

“Our (main) harvest will start in September. It is better to hasten the harvest or advance it so that before November, it is almost complete,” he added.

De Mesa said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has at least P1 billion in Quick Response Fund that can be tapped to help farmers who will be affected by La Niña.

“Once the P1-billion QRF is used, the DA can request the Department of Budget and Management to replenish it. There were times that the total QRF reached P3 billion,” he added.

Flood deaths

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported yesterday that two persons have died due to the southwest monsoon.

In its latest situation report, the NDRRMC said one of the two fatalities – a 47-year-old woman – was confirmed to have died in Kabacan, North Cotabato. Her body was found floating in Pulangi River. The other fatality, said to be from Davao region, is still being confirmed.

But the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported having already retrieved four bodies of persons reported as missing in last week’s flooding in many areas in Mindanao.

In a statement, the PCG District in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao reported helping the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of BARMM in locating the whereabouts of four children and one elderly person in Barangay Pinantao, Matanog, Maguindanao.

In Zamboanga City, the PCG also assisted in rescuing more than 750 individuals affected by flooding last Sunday.

Commodore Marco Antonio Gines, PCG commander in BARMM, said the flooding was caused by heavy rains due to the monsoon, which also resulted in the grounding of 16 vessels in the region.

PAGASA said yesterday that the cloud cluster 485 kilometers east of Davao City has developed into a low-pressure area (LPA) and may further evolve into a tropical cyclone.

“Starting Tuesday and Wednesday, rains will persist in the Visayas and Mindanao and Southern Luzon. We are advising our fellow citizens living in (these areas) to expect a rainy week because of the LPA that may develop into a typhoon,” said PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina.

Badrina added that the LPA outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has developed into a typhoon and is already in Vietnam.

“It is already in Vietnam and it is expected to make landfall. It has no name since it is outside PAR, but it is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon,” he noted.

According to Badrina, rains due to thunderstorms were experienced in Bulacan, Tanay, Rizal, Laguna and Quezon provinces as well as in other eastern portions of Southern Luzon.

“Bataan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, Batangas and Zambales will also experience rains, especially in the afternoon, because of thunderstorms,” Badrina added. — Pia Lee-Brago, Evelyn Macairan