Amid super El Niño threat: agricultural budget hike

CEBU, Philippines — With prolonged dry spells expected to threaten agricultural production, the Cebu Provincial Government is proposing P354.82-million budget for agriculture in 2027, aimed at helping farmers and fisherfolk cope with the potential effects of Super El Niño.

The allocation is part of the province’s proposed P14.6-billion annual budget for next year, which the executive department has submitted to the Provincial Board for review and approval. The allocation is 142-percent higher than the current agriculture budget to strengthen food security amid the threat of prolonged dry spells, water shortages and potential crop and fisheries losses.

“Because of the anticipation nato sa Super El Niño, we have to also think of that and make sure that we have sufficient budget para sa atong food security,” Governor Pamela Baricuatro said.

“Karon ato gyud na gibutangan og budget para maka-augment ta sa atong mga farmers ug fisherfolk,” she added.

Food security

The provincial government is preparing interventions to help farmers and fisherfolk, particularly those in areas vulnerable to water shortages and reduced agricultural output.

Earlier, Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Roldan Saragena said the province had lined up P53.021 million worth of interventions to prepare for El Niño, covering insurance, water access, planting materials and other agricultural assistance.

Saragena said the province had convened municipal and city agriculturists and consulted the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on the climate phenomenon and its possible effects on Cebu.

Based on the earlier briefing, the province expected the effects to become more noticeable toward the last week of November and continue through the first half of 2027.

Insurance for farmers

A key intervention is the province’s agri-fishery insurance program, which protects farmers and fisherfolk against potential losses.

The program covers 39,649 farmers and includes rice, corn, banana, mango, coffee, cacao, cassava and vegetables, as well as fishing boats.

The provincial government shoulders the insurance premiums of qualified beneficiaries, with farmers tilling three hectares or less prioritized under the program’s guidelines, Saragena earlier said. The province allocated P34 million for the insurance program this year, according to Saragena.

Water, planting materials

The province is also expanding measures to improve water availability for agricultural production through the construction of small farm reservoirs and the distribution of water-storage containers and pumping equipment.

Four small farm reservoirs, each with a capacity of 115,000 liters, have been constructed in Dalingding, Daanbantayan; Simala, Sibonga; Taba-ao, Tabogon; and Kantabogon, Aloguinsan.

The Provincial Agriculture Office has also secured 116 gasoline-powered water pumps rated at 5.5 kilowatts and 2,000 plastic drums, each with a capacity of 200 liters.

Other assistance includes 20 sets of gas-powered water pumps with high-density polyethylene hoses, 25 walking-type agricultural tractors and 25,500 bags of organic fertilizer.

Crops, fisheries support

To sustain food production, the province is distributing planting materials and other agricultural inputs, including 1.055 million sweet potato cuttings, 20,310 packs of assorted vegetable seeds and 2,000 cacao seedlings. Earlier preparations also included promoting the Food Always in the Home (FAITH) program, which encourages households and communities to grow vegetables, and plans to distribute drought-tolerant crops such as mung beans.

For the fisheries sector, the provincial government has distributed 212 payao, or fish aggregating devices (FADs), to cities and municipalities to support fishing activities.

The province also planned to distribute 102 additional units, equivalent to two sets for each local government unit. Other fisheries assistance includes 158,000 bangus fingerlings and 2,700 bags of bangus feeds.

The provincial government is also preparing pest-control measures for agriculture, including the provision of environment-friendly pesticides. — /FPL (FREEMAN)