THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) XI has allocated a total of P729 million for its El Niño action plan to carry out key strategies and maintain production in Davao Region.
During Wednesday’s media forum on Sept. 16, DA XI Disaster Risk Reduction Management Unit (DRRM) focal person Joedel Leliza said the budget focuses on maximizing production at P678-M in non-vulnerable areas. Meanwhile, P40-M is allotted for preparatory activities, and P9.9-M will be for saving production in vulnerable areas
The agency has also intensified the distribution of seedlings and fertilizers to farmers to cope with the production requirements in the Philippines.
One of the strategies involves shifting to planting crops that are tolerant to moisture stress or drought in order for farmers to still earn their income.
He also said the buffer stock is at around P50M worth of rice, corn, and other vegetable seeds in anticipation of the El Niño phenomenon.
Leliza shared that the Davao Region has already sustained damage from moisture stress since January 2026.
Based on reports from April 2026, P646 million in value loss of fruits alone was impacted out of the total P713M agriculture loss, which affected 2,027 farmers and 1,291.71 hectares in the first episode.
In the second episode, during the rising El Niño status, the value loss was P454-M (rice, corn, high-value crops, etc.), affecting 4,447 farmers with 4,790.65 hectares damaged.
As per the PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) weather forecast, the month of September will experience below-normal conditions, whereas October will be near normal.
