MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday urged the establishment of a real-time public dashboard to track dry spell threats, agricultural damage, water reserves, and the distribution of state aid as severe El Niño conditions build across the country.
The proposed digital tracker aims to provide transparent, up-to-date information regarding irrigation status, damaged farmlands, affected communities, direct financial or material support delivered, and overall yield losses.
Pangilinan emphasized that open access to this data will ensure government aid actually reaches vulnerable food producers before their livelihoods suffer irreparable harm.
“May babala na tayo. Dapat ngayon pa lang naghahanda na tayo, hindi kung kelan tuyo na ang bukid at wala nang mahuling isda saka tayo kikilos,” Pangilinan stressed.
The lawmaker’s push comes on the heels of a September 23 bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The state weather bureau warned that a potent El Niño is currently active and could escalate into a major event between September and December, likely lingering through the first half of 2027 while bringing severe rainfall deficits, dry spells, and widespread drought.
Beyond the online tracking system, Pangilinan outlined a series of proactive measures, advocating for provincial-level preparedness maps that pinpoint high-risk zones, crop inventories, current water supplies, and vulnerable coastal or inland fishing grounds.
He noted that these blueprints must clearly define agency responsibilities and outline pre-disaster support mechanisms.
“Hindi natin kayang pigilan ang El Niño pero kaya nating bawasan ang epekto nito sa ating mga magsasaka, mangingisda, at mamimili,” he said.
To mitigate immediate risks, the senator called for accelerated repairs of irrigation networks, timely delivery of drought-resistant seeds, and the immediate identification of secondary water sources.
For communities facing imminent losses, he recommended streamlined damage assessments, accessible credit lines, crop insurance payouts, and emergency relief to prevent families from falling prey to predatory lenders.
He also urged the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to actively monitor inland and coastal waters susceptible to rising temperatures.
Furthermore, Pangilinan supported reviving the Presidential Task Force on El Niño and suggested a Senate oversight inquiry to review national readiness.
“Kapag pinabayaan natin ang ating mga food producers, sapul na naman ang presyo at supply ng pagkain,” Pangilinan warned, pointing out that neglecting farmers and fisherfolk will inevitably trigger food shortages and spike retail prices for consumers.