The agriculture sector in the Philippines has suffered a significant blow, with a total of P1.23 billion in damages due to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the hardest-hit region is Western Visayas, which has incurred P678.7 million in agricultural damage. Other regions affected include Mimaropa (P319.7 million), Cagayan Valley (P180.4 million), Ilocos (P54.4 million), Calabarzon (P2.75 million), and Zamboanga Peninsula (P717,527).
As a result of El Niño, 29,409 farmers and fisherfolk have been affected, along with 26,731 hectares of crops nationwide. The Department of Agriculture has assured that the government is prepared to provide credit and insurance assistance to those impacted by the weather anomaly, characterized by prolonged dry spells.
The United Nations weather agency has reported that the current El Niño event, which is one of the five strongest on record, is gradually weakening but will continue to have a significant impact on global climate patterns in the coming months. Above-normal temperatures are expected over most land areas from March to May.
Experts from the World Meteorological Organization have stated that there is a 60 percent chance of El Niño persisting from March to May, with an 80 percent chance of neutral conditions in April to June. While there is a possibility of La Niña developing later in the year, the odds are currently uncertain.
In preparation for potential health issues arising from El Niño, hospitals across the country are ready for medical emergencies, as announced by the Department of Health. Officials from the DOH have been working closely with other government agencies to ensure that medical and health care services remain uninterrupted throughout the duration of El Niño.
