• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Senator Francis Escudero praised the provincial government of Negros Occidental for taking early action to mitigate the effects of the looming El Niño phenomenon, urging other local government units across the country to adopt similar proactive measures.
Escudero said the province’s preparedness and coordination efforts should serve as a model for local governments facing increasingly severe climate conditions brought about by prolonged dry spells.
The senator made the statement as the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) reported that crop damage in Negros Occidental due to dry spell had reached P15.89 million, as of May 22.
According to OPA reports, about 572.29 hectares of rice fields and 523 farmers have been affected by the dry conditions.
“Whenever there is a threat of extreme heat, concrete plans, preparedness, and swift action are necessary so that our farmers and communities will not suffer heavily,” Escudero said.
He also commended Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and local officials for their proactive response to the situation.
In a statement, Escudero noted that with repeated warnings from the country’s weather bureau about the approaching El Niño-induced drought, local government units nationwide should already be preparing mitigation measures.
The senator emphasized that the national government must complement local initiatives by providing timely support. He reiterated his call to utilize the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) under the Rice Tariffication Law to assist provinces expected to face prolonged dry spells.
He explained that the P15-billion allocation under the “Other Priority Programs” component of the RCEF could be used for interventions aimed at improving productivity and helping farmers cope with climate-related losses.
According to Escudero, the fund may support emergency irrigation projects, production inputs, and financial assistance for affected farmers. These measures, he said, would complement the provincial government’s ongoing coordination with the Bureau of Soil and Water Management regarding possible cloud-seeding operations as farms begin drying up due to extreme heat.
Some agricultural areas in Negros Occidental have already shown signs of drying up, prompting provincial officials to explore cloud-seeding activities and assess the possible use of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management funds to provide aid to affected farmers.
Escudero also urged the Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Administration to immediately mobilize the P730.9-million allocation for small-scale irrigation projects under the proposed 2026 national budget.
He stressed that expanding access to water and preparing irrigation systems for prolonged dry conditions would be crucial in preventing further agricultural losses.*
