Cagayan under state of calamity due to drought, oil crisis

The province of Cagayan has been placed under a state of calamity due to severe drought and ongoing fuel price hikes driven by the conflict in the Middle East.

In a social media post on Monday, Cagayan Vice Governor Manuel Mamba said the provincial board approved the declaration through Resolution No. 2026-12-452, based on the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

According to the Cagayan PDRRMC, agricultural damage has reached over P10.29 billion, affecting thousands of farmers and fisherfolk in the province.

In Tuao, Cagayan, 1,893 rice farmers and 628 corn farmers were affected, with losses reaching P3.76 million due to severe drought and water shortage.

With the declaration, the provincial government is authorized to use its calamity fund for relief assistance, restoration of essential services, and rehabilitation efforts.

The resolution also urged lending and financing institutions to extend relief measures, including loan moratoriums for affected clients.

In March, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued an El Niño Watch, citing an increasing likelihood of El Niño development between July and September.

PAGASA earlier declared the end of La Niña on March 9, with the country now under El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions.

The agency issues an El Niño Watch when conditions are favorable, with at least a 55% chance of development within the next six months.

On March 23, PAGASA also announced the end of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan), marking the onset of the dry season.

The public has been advised to take precautions against heat stress and to stay hydrated to prevent dehydration.

Meanwhile, the Middle East conflict has triggered successive oil price hikes in the country, as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s key oil shipping routes—affected global supply.

After 13 straight weeks of gasoline increases and 15 consecutive weeks for diesel and kerosene, oil companies implemented price rollbacks for the week of April 14, 2026:

• Diesel: P20.00 to P23.00 per liter
• Gasoline: P4.00 to P6.50 per liter
• Kerosene: P8.50 to P11.50 per liter

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said oil companies must comply with government-set fuel price adjustment guidelines under the national energy emergency declared by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on March 24.—MCG, GMA News