Lawmakers from both the majority and minority blocs temporarily set aside political divisions on Monday, November 9, urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity or imminent disaster across El Niño-affected areas to protect the country’s food and water supplies.
Under Proposed Senate Resolution 765, the Senate called on the Chief Executive—upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)—to issue the declaration, which would mandate the reprogramming of funds for public infrastructure repairs and the provision of zero-interest loans to vulnerable sectors.
The bipartisan resolution was signed by Senate President Win Gatchalian, Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senate Senior Majority Leader JV Ejercito, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Christopher “Bong” Go, Camille Villar, and Mark Villar.
Highlighting the urgency of the mounting dry spell, Pangilinan stressed the need for immediate government interventions to safeguard agricultural production and curb predatory market practices.
“Planting season ngayon sa ating mga palayan, at kailangan ng tubig. Kailangan mag-plant din tayo ng mga remedial measure tulad ng pag-impose ng price ceilings, at laban sa overpricing, profiteering, at hoarding,” Pangilinan said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier warned that a powerful El Niño is currently present in the Tropical Pacific, expected to peak before the end of the year and persist through the first half of 2027.
According to the Senate resolution, agricultural losses had already reached approximately ₱6.87 billion by September 26—representing 43% of the total losses incurred during the 2023–2024 El Niño episode. Several local government units across Cagayan Valley, Caraga, the Bicol Region, Calabarzon, and Soccsksargen have already declared local states of calamity, impacting an estimated 388,375 residents.
Despite ongoing relief efforts, the resolution noted that government assistance has only reached 2.53 million out of the Department of Agriculture’s 11.12 million target beneficiaries, or roughly 22.8%.
In light of these compounding pressures, the senators called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and relevant agencies to immediately fast-track the mobilization of available resources, including tapping into the approximately ₱39-billion national disaster fund.