Senators urge state of calamity declaration in El Niño-hit areas

Twenty senators have signed a resolution calling on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity in areas affected by the strong El Niño phenomenon.

Under proposed Senate Resolution 765, the President is urged, upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), to declare a state of calamity under Republic Act (RA) 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, in areas experiencing drought-related disaster impacts.

The President may also declare a state of imminent disaster as warranted under RA 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, in areas facing “highly probable disasters with projected catastrophic impacts,” as determined through appropriate disaster risk assessment.

The resolution was signed by Senate Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform committee chairperson Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, as well as Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Senators Vicente Sotto III, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Alan Peter Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, JV Ejercito, Lito Lapid, Joel Villanueva, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Ping Lacson, Chiz Escudero, Pia Cayetano, Bong Go, Camille Villar, and Mark Villar.

The senators also urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and concerned agencies to mobilize available and eligible funds under the 2026 national budget, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund and agency Quick Response Funds.

They also called on concerned agencies and local price coordination councils to monitor the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities, and to take action against overpricing, profiteering, and hoarding in affected areas.

As of October 21, the agricultural sector incurred P8.57 billion in damage and losses due to El Niño, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The agricultural damage was reportedly recorded in Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga.

The DA earlier proposed a P61.99-billion action plan to mitigate the impact of El Niño on the country’s food supply and livelihoods.

The proposed spending package includes P6.2 billion already released under the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Program. —VAL, GMA News