Strengthening capacities for climate risk management and disaster

preparedness in Bicol Region, Philippines

In view of current and future hydrometeorological hazards and

climate risks that affect both the agriculture and fishery
sectors of the region, the Government of the Philippines and the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
embarked on a joint technical cooperation project to Enhance
Capacities for Climate Risk Management and Disaster Preparedness
in Agriculture.
The assistance aims to enhance the capacities within the
Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Atmospheric
Geographical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and of local
institutions to better manage climate related risks and to
improve the livelihood resilience and food security of farmers
and fisher folks.
Specific project objectives
1.

Enhancing
institutional
and
technical
capacities
and
knowledge among local authorities and communities to better
manage climate-related risks in agriculture

2.

Making
Good
Practices
Options
available for
enhanced
disaster
risk
management
and
possible
dissemination
and
replication elsewhere in the country

3.

Improved livelihoods and food security

farmers and fisher folk in disaster-prone areas.

of

small-scale

Period: 9/2009 - 12/2011

Background
National Context
The Philippines, due to its geographical location and physical
environment, is highly vulnerable to typhoons, floods and
droughts.
On average, the country faces about 20 typhoons
annually. These events trigger landslides, flash floods,
mudslides, widespread flooding and together with the associated
high winds, cause destruction and damage to homes, community
buildings,
communications,
infrastructure,
roads,
bridges,
agricultural crops and fishing farms. In 2006 in a span of ten
weeks from 25 September to 1 December, the country was hit by

three extremely destructive typhoons. Typhoon Reming, which hit

on 30 November was the most destructive, severely affecting all
the six provinces of the Bicol Region (Albay, Catanduanes,
Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon and Masbate).The
typhoon Reming brought 466 mm of rainfall, the highest in 40
years. It damaged 18,786 ha planted to rice at varying stages of
growth and the damage to investment losses in terms of input
costs such as seeds, fertilizers and labor was valued at P153.8
million.
Regional Context
Bicol Region (known as Region V) consists of the six provinces of
Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catandauanes, Masbate and
Sorsogon. It has one chartered city, six component cities, 107
municipalities and 3, 371 barangays. It has a population of more
than 5 million and is the home of the famous Mayon Volcano.
Topography ranges from slightly undulating to rolling and from
hilly to mountainous. Owing to its diverse terrain with high
mountains
and
volcanic
landforms
and
extensive
valley
interspersed with rivers and lakes, the Region is exposed to high
annual and seasonal rainfall variability. The Region is highly
vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons, flash floods,
strong winds, thunderstorms and drought. Moreover, the seasonal
variations in weather, especially of rainfall, cause variations
in production and seasonal price fluctuations, which affect the
income of the farmers significantly. It is expected that the
impacts of climate change will further exacerbate the regions 's
exposure to climate induced risks.The provinces of Albay,
Camarines Sur and Sorsogon are particularly vulnerable to
climate-related hazards. These prompted the Philippine Government
to request FAO assistance to DA and PAGASA in designing and
testing good practices and a proactive risk reduction and
management strategy for agriculture and fisheries in the Bicol
Region.

Bicol Region to be pilot area for climate change resistant crops

Created on Tuesday, 12 August 2014
The Department of Agriculture said today that the Bicol Region,
especially Albay, will be the pilot area for climate change
resistant or adapting crops in line with governments climate
change resiliency program.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the region will also
serve as the laboratory for the DAs quick- turnaround-plantingand- production-after-a-typhoon initiative.
He added the regional share of Bicol in the proposed DA budget of
P48.4 billion will be P1.9 billion.

The Secretary said Bicol deserves the additional funds since the
industrious Bicolanos produced P57-billion worth of agricultural
products in 2013.
That is why even if the land area of Region 5 is small and it is
often visited by typhoons, the Oragons ranked sixth in rice
production, eighth in hog production, and seventh in coconut and
corn production, Alcala said.
Estimated damage wrought by typhoon Glenda on the agricultural
sector is valued at P3.98 billion, the aggregate total for crops,
livestock, agri-infrastructre, abaca and fisheries, with 80,435
affected. (DA-OSEC)

Latest earthquake activity near Metro Manila: 19th October, 2015,

magnitude 5.8, 13:50:41 GMT (21:50:41 local), duration 28
seconds, 84 kilometers, bearing 208 from Makati City, closest
large habitation Calatagan, Batangas province, felt in Metro
Manila as magnitude 2.0-, no noticeable damage to structures,
JUST A SHAKE. earthquake info from USGS website.
The majority of Philippine earthquakes occur somewhere near the
Philippines' Pacific East coast (especially the East coasts of
Mindanao & Samar), where a significant tectonic subduction zone
has created the second deepest ocean trench in the World - named
the Philippine Deep or the Philippine Trench - with a depth
greater than 34,000 feet! On 31st August, 2012, this area of the
Philippines received a 7.6 magnitude earthquake along the
Philippine Trench, East of Samar Island.
Just as in California, U.S.A., a measurable earthquake in the
Philippines (greater than Magnitude 2.5) occurs almost every day
somewhere, but most people are completely unaware of them - in
the ten years from 2008 to 2015 only three earthquakes were felt
slightly in Metro Manila, all three earthquakes resulted from
seismic activity in the West Philippine Sea, along the geological
fault that runs North - South off the West coast of Zambales
province. It is rare to have an earthquake in the Philippines
that measures greater than Magnitude 6.0.
The last significantly destructive earthquake in the Philippines
occurred on 15th October, 2013, beneath the West coast of Bohol
Island. The Bohol earthquake was measured as Magnitude 7.2
causing substantial damage across the island, and cited as the
cause of 222 fatalities. Damage was apparent to buildings in the
provinces of Bohol and Cebu.

Remember: earthquakes do not kill - buildings kill; explore the

Philippines' beautiful beaches, rivers, mountains and rain
forests, instead of its cities.
Historic Philippine Earthquake Information
For detailed historic Philippine earthquake / seismic event
information plus: seismic events / earthquakes during the past
seven days, earthquake maps, earthquake graphics and related
technical data we recommend: U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake
Hazards Program
The Marikina Fault
The most significant, historic earthquake zone (geological fault)
in the Philippines is located just 10km East of Manila City and
is known as the "Marikina Valley Fault" or, frequently, "Marikina
Fault". Archaeological evidence tells us that the Marikina Fault
earthquake zone, that runs almost North-South along the Marikina
Valley, and almost exactly parallels the route of the C-5
circumferential road around Metro Manila, slips every 200-400
years (average every 310 years) delivering a magnitude 6.0-7.0
earthquake (maximum estimated 7.5). The last time the Marikina
Fault earthquake zone slipped is calculated to have been in
1863AD, meaning that this geological fault is not due for another
movement for about 50 more years, on average. But a better-safethan-sorry philosophy suggests even more reasons to chill out on
the beaches, especially around Puerto Galera.
Tsunami Philippines
Tsunami in the Philippines are extremely rare.
The last measurable tsunami in the Philippines affected the
northern and the eastern seaboards on 11th March, 2011. In that
event, tsunami waves of around half a meter, resulting from a
relatively shallow and very large 8.9 magnitude earthquake off
the coast off Miyagi prefecture, Honshu, Japan, arrived in the
early evening and caused little or no damage, and no loss of
life.
Prior to March 2011, the last recorded tsunami in the
Philippines, that actually caused loss of life, occurred in the
Verde Island Passage (between Batangas & Mindoro Island,
affecting Puerto Galera) in the early morning of 15th November
1994, originating from a 7.1 magnitude (Richter) earthquake, 11
KM West of the Baco Islands, according to the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The tsunami waves,
resulting from the 7.1 magnitude earthquake, were measured at 6
meters in many areas when they reached land, but up to 8.5 meters

in a few locations (primarily the Baco islands) where the

bathymetry was favorable; the tsunami waves reached up to 250
meters inland in areas that faced the earthquake epicenter. The
death toll was 41 people.
Tsunami Warnings
For current and recent tsunami warnings for the Pacific and
Indian Ocean: U.S. National Weather Service Pacific & Indian
Ocean Tsunami Warnings Center

MANILA, Philippines - With still three months left in 2015, the

number of dengue cases in the country is near the 100,000 mark,
the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.
Based on a report of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, there were
92,807 dengue cases recorded across the country from January 1 to
September 19.
The DOH said this is 23.5 percent higher than the 75,117 cases
registered during the same period in 2014.
However, it was observed that the 269 death toll recorded this
year was lower than the 316 cases last year.
Central Luzon accounted for the highest cases at 14,127, followed
by Calabarzon with 14,082, National Capital Region with
10,385, Ilocos
region
with
8,136,
Northern
Mindanao
6,451, Cagayan Valley 5,677 and Soccsksargen with 5,552.
The records also showed cases had increased in the regions of
Cagayan Valley (176 percent), Cordillera Administrative Region
(164 percent), Metro Manila (156 percent), Central Luzon (119
percent), Calabarzon
(95
percent), Ilocos
(91
percent),
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (41 percent) and Central
Visayas (13 percent).
Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The provinces of Bulacan and Cavite have declared a state of
calamity in their respective areas due to the rising number of
dengue patients and deaths brought about by the disease.
Sen. Nancy Binay called for an inquiry into the increasing number
of dengue cases in the country.

Binay filed Senate Resolution No. 1608 seeking explanation from

the DOH on how it could effectively control the spread of dengue.
It is important for the DOH to inform the public of the overall
state of dengue outbreak in the country in order to fully address
the situation and protect the health and lives of the people,
Binay said.
Health Secretary Janette Garin reiterated the DOHs calls for the
public to be vigilant against dengue by eliminating the possible
breeding sites of mosquitoes.
Dengue is spread by the bites primarily of Aedes aegypti
mosquitoes which thrive in clean and stagnant water abundant
during rainy days.
The DOH reminded the public that such mosquitoes could also
proliferate even during the dry spell caused by the El Nio
season if water containers are not properly covered.
A person suffering from dengue has high fever (40C); headaches;
joint, bone or muscle pains; pain behind the eyes; nausea or
vomiting; swollen glands and rashes.
The flu-like symptoms would last for two to seven days, after an
incubation period of four to ten days after being bitten by an
infected mosquito, according to the World Health Organization.
The WHO advised special attention should be given when the person
starts to exhibit warning signs. Christina Mendez

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Health officials in Metro Manila

are preparing for an overflow of dengue patients from Cavite to
hospitals in the metropolis.
The San Lazaro Hospital in Manila has added dengue to its Code
White alert list since the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome scare
hit early this year.
A Code White alert means all hospital staff are on standby round
the

clock

and

prepositioned.

that

medicines

and

other

supplies

have

been

Dengue admissions in San Lazaro Hospital have more than doubled

in August compared to the same month last year.
The hospital administration said the number is still much lower,
though, compared to the dengue outbreak in 2012. The hospital has
500 beds.
One of the patients in the ward is three-year-old Jas Benebaye.
She traveled all the way from Cavite as the hospitals there could
not admit more patients.
Her mother Gloria says she would much rather stay closer to home
but was left with no choice.
The Philippine National Police General Hospital has also been
swamped with dengue cases. It has even opened a dengue express
lane for those showing dengue-like symptoms.
With its pediatric ward at near capacity, the hospital had to use
other wards as well.
The Department of Health warns that dengue is a threat during a
long

dry

spell

and

reminds

residents

to

destroy

potential

mosquito breeding sites.

Preventing dengue
There is no vaccine to prevent dengue. The best way to prevent
getting the disease is to avoid being bitten by an infected
mosquito.
Avoid being bitten by a mosquito by:

using
insect
repellent
to
avoid
being
bitten,
especially around dawn and dusk products containing Ndiethylmetatoluamide (DEET) are effective, but products
containing this ingredient should not be used in babies
younger than two months and in lower concentrations in
younger children (20-30% DEET)
wearing loose-fitting but protective clothing mosquitoes
are able to bite through tight-fitting clothes; trousers,

long-sleeved shirts, and socks and shoes (not sandals) are

ideal
sleeping under a mosquito net to avoid being bitten at night
be aware of your environment mosquitoes that cause dengue
breed in standing water in crowded urban environments; this
can range from communal toilets to water that gathers inside
a stack of old tyres

CHARACTERISTICS OF EL NIO
It occurs in the Pacific basin every 2-9 years
It usually starts between December to February
Once established, it lasts until the first half of the following year; however, at times it may
last longer
It exhibits phase-locking in annual cycles, which means rainfall fluctuations associated
with it tend to recur at the same time of the year
It usually has a biennial cycle or is often preceded and/or followed by La Nia
CLIMATIC INDICATORS OF EL NIO IN THE PHILIPPINES
Delayed onset of the rainy season
Early termination of the rainy season
Weak monsoon activity (i.e. isolated short, heavy downpours)
Weak tropical cyclone activity, i.e.:
o Far tropical cyclone tracks
o Fewer tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility
o Less intense tropical cyclones
HOW IS EL NIO DIFFERENT FROM LA NIA?

El Nio is associated with warmer surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific
region, while La Nia is characterized by unusually cold surface temperatures of the
ocean.

In the Philippines, La Nia is associated with anomalies in rainfall, temperature, and

tropical cyclone activities. La Nia conditions, on the other hand, favor the formation of
tropical cyclones over the western Pacific, thus increasing the number of tropical
cyclones.

E L NIO?

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United

Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related

geophysical sciences. It is the United Nations authoritative voice on the state and
behaviour of the Earths atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it
produces and the resulting distribution of water resources.

PAGASA also gathers information from the US National Oceanic Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) and its funded agencies like the Climate Prediction Center
(CPC). The NOAA, CPC, and the International Research Institute regularly provide
information on the development of ENSO event, we follow their announcement. The US
has observing stations over the Nino region, so they monitor these oceanic areas in real
time.
HOW TO CONSERVE WATER DURING EL NIO

[View our infographic on how to conserve water]

The government is making sure that the general population is shielded from the adverse
repercussions of the weather phenomenon, particularly the severe dry spell. Likewise,
the public is also urged to do its share in mitigating the effects of El Nio on water
supply.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) offers these water conservation tips:
1. Turn the faucet off firmly to prevent leakage. Installing low volume/high pressure (LV/HP)
nozzles or flow constrictors helps reduce water usage by up to 50 percent.
2. Use the water dipper (tabo) and pail (timba) instead of the shower while taking a bath.
3. Instead of running water, use a glass of water while brushing your teeth.
4. Buy new, water-efficient toilet bowls that consume only 2.6 4 liters of water for every
flush. Old models use up to 14 liters of water per flush.
5. Discard leftover food before washing dishes. As much as possible, use a basin
(palanggana) to save water as well as dishwashing soap.
6. Wash all your clothes at once. Dont allow the water in your washbasin (batya) to
overflow.
7. Reuse water from your laundry to flush your toilet, clean your car, or water your garden
plants.
8. Instead of a water hose, use only a pail and a towel in washing your car.
9. Water your plants only before sunrise or after sunset to prevent water loss due to
vaporization.
10. Collect rainwater with pails and basins, and store it for future use (e.g., watering the
plants, cleaning the house).
11. In restaurants and hotels, serve water to guests only when they ask for it. Collect leftover
drinking water, and use it to water your garden plants.
12. Switch off the water valve in buildings that are not operational at night. Turn off the gate
valve in the evening, and turn it on again the following morning.
13. Report broken pipelines and illegal water connections to proper authorities. Dial the
Maynilad and Manila Water hotline numbers (1626 and 1627, respectively), or contact
the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) office nearest you.
14. Share these water saving tips to your family, neighbors, students, and co-workers.

PAGASA has been closely monitoring the oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the
tropical Pacific that could lead to possible development of an El Nio. A majority of

climate models indicate that El Nio may develop this year. El Nio is characterized by
unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific
(CEEP).
The sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) over the tropical Pacific remained to be
El Nio Southern Oscillation (ENSO)- neutral during the past several months. The
established threshold of SSTA for an El Nio phenomenon is 0.5C or higher during a
three-month period.
PAGASA has already noted significant increase in the SSTA from 0.2 to 0.4C from April
21 to April 28, 2014. Because of this development and as climate models predict that
this condition may persist for the next nine months, PAGASA is foreseeing the onset of
El Nio in June which may peak during the last quarter of 2014 and may last up to the
first
quarter
of
2015.
El Nio could affect the normal rainfall pattern in the country generally resulting in
reduced rainfall. Different parts of the country may experience varying rainfall impacts.
PAGASA will be furnishing monthly rainfall outlook for six months for the different parts
of
the
country.
The country could still experience normal number of tropical cyclone this year. However,
El Nio causes the behavior of tropical cyclones to become erratic, affecting its tracks
and intensity. The tropical cyclone tracks are expected to shift northward and its
intensity
could
become
stronger.
PAGASA will continue to closely monitor the tropical Pacific and updates/advisories
shall be issued as appropriate. Concerned agencies are advised to take precautionary
measures to mitigate the potential impacts of this phenomenon.

The Philippine weather bureau Pagasa early this year alerted the
public to prepare for the effects of a four-month dry spell that
is forecast to affect 32 provinces.
Thirty-two provinces will likely be affected by the dry spell
from August to November 2015, the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)
said in its second semester outlook.
Pagasa identified the provinces as Isabela, Aurora, Batangas,
Cavite, Rizal, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro,
Romblon, Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Aklan, Antique,
Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Negros
Oriental, Siquijor, Southern Leyte , Zamboanga del Norte,
Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Southern Cotabato,
Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Maguindanao and Sulu.
Pagasa expects the dry condition to intensify El Nio from weak
to moderate by August and the weather phenomenon may persist
until December then gradually weaken in early 2016.
Such El Nio may likely terminate by May 2016, it said.

El Nio comes with a warming in sea surface temperatures in the

equatorial Pacific, and can cause unusually heavy rains in some
parts of the world and drought elsewhere.
This years El Nio began in March and is forecast to last about
a year.
Authorities in Australia have
strong and substantial.

already

predicted

it

would

be

That trend is still expected to continue, said Mike Halpert,

deputy director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administrations Climate Prediction Center, on a conference call
with reporters to discuss the US agencys latest forecast,
released also on Thursday.
What is new this month is we are predicting that this El Nio
could be among the strongest El Nios in the historical record
dating back to 1950, Halpert said.
The reason for the forecast is the finding that three months of
average sea surface temperatures in a key part of the equatorial
Pacific could potentially reach or even exceed two degrees
Celsius above normal, which is 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above
normal, a value that we have only recorded three times in the
last 65 years, he added.
Such temperatures were previously seen in the 1972-1973 season,
1982-1983 and 1997-1998.
The southern United States from Florida to central California may
expect higher than normal levels of precipitation, as can the US
East Coast as far north as New England, Halpert said.
The northern Rockies, Great Lakes, Hawaii and western Alaska may
be dryer and warmer than normal, he added.
Even though forecasts of rain will be welcome in drought-ravaged
California, Halpert said it would not be enough to refill the
states reservoirs.
One season of above average rain and snow is very unlikely to
erase four years of drought, he added.
Altered
storm
patterns
in
PH
Despite the prevailing El Nio, Pagasa expects an average 11 to

16 tropical cyclones to either enter or develop in the Philippine

Area of Responsibility (PAR) during the June to December period.
Pagasa earlier said El Nio episodes could alter the landfall
patterns of tropical cyclones.
Pagasa forecaster Fernando Cada had said lower-than-average
number of landfalls could be expected in the Philippines during
El Nio as tropical cyclones tend to head northward instead of
crossing the country as what storms generally do under normal
conditions.
He explained that lesser landfalls mean less amount of rainfall
as the country would experience during a non-El Nio year.
The recent cyclone to hit the country, Hanna (international name:
Soudelor), which was classified as a Category V super typhoon and
dubbed as the strongest storm this year, only scraped the
northeastern part of the Philippine Area of Responsibility and
did not make landfall.
Soudelor, however, had severe impacts in the Northern Mariana
Islands, Taiwan and eastern China, resulting in at least 37
confirmed fatalities.
Pagasa is monitoring a weather disturbance that may develop into
a super typhoon which like Hanna or Soudelor is not expected to
make landfall.
The state weather bureau said the storm is forecast to head
straight to Japan if it continues to follow its current path.
The cyclone, which is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon
(habagat), may enter the PAR by middle of next week.

MANILA, 8 March 2010 (IRIN) - Warnings have been raised over food
security in the Philippines as the El Nio phenomenon wreaks
havoc across vast agricultural areas, leaving staple crops such
as
rice
dying
in
parched
earth,
officials
say.

The cost of crop damage has topped US$239 million since the
phenomenon started a heat wave across much of northern Luzon
Island and parts of the central Visayas region in late December,
said the Department of Agriculture in a recent report by its
special
task
force
on
El
Nio.
Some 14 provinces have been affected, with the brunt of the
crisis borne by the agricultural provinces of Nueva Ecija, Nueva
Vizcaya, Cagayan and Isabela, where irrigation has dried up.
The El Nio drought is compounding problems for an already bleak
agricultural sector recovering from devastation wrought last year
by two powerful storms, Ketsana and Parma, that pummelled Luzon,
officials
say.
To stave off a potential shortfall in rice supply, the
agriculture department has said it may import some three million
metric
tonnes
of
rice
this
year.
Gary Olivar, spokesman for Philippines President Gloria Arroyo,
confirmed that the government had entered into import contracts
for
rice
as
a
"short-term
alternative".
"There are no long-term food shortage effects from a short-term
phenomenon like El Nio, but we are preparing for its more
frequent recurrence due to global warming by expanding our water
supply sources, exploring dry weather cultivation methods, as
well
as
similar
other
policies,"
Olivar
told
IRIN.

Range

of

crops

affected

Pig and poultry farmers are also alarmed at the impact on corn
crops, fearing skyrocketing prices of animal feeds, since corn is
a
major
raw
material.
According to official statistics, 54 percent of the total
487,389ha planted with rice, corn, tobacco and other high value
commercial crops have been affected in the northern region.
Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan provinces are officially under
a state of calamity, so they can now tap extra government
funding.
The government is also racing against time to save remaining
crops by bringing in additional irrigation pumps and seeding
clouds in what has so far been a failed bid to induce rain. Teams
of experts are also monitoring possible drought-triggered
outbreaks
of
pests
and
diseases.
The World Food Programme (WFP) described the situation as "a slow

onset

emergency".

We are particularly concerned for people still trying to recover

from floods and storms that hit the country in September and
October, that now, when they are trying to grow crops, they are
again confronted with another natural disaster, WFP country
director
Stephen
Anderson
told
IRIN.
Long-term

solutions

needed

With much of the arable land relying on rain-fed irrigation

systems, the situation has become dire, a coalition of rice
farmers
and
traders
is
warning.
It noted that the bulk of rice production was expected in the
last quarter of the year, but this could be weakened by the
extended
effects
of
El
Nio.
The group is urging the government to help farmers withstand
abnormal weather conditions threatening the countrys staple
foods instead of quick fix solutions like importing rice.
"Being in the typhoon corridor of the Pacific, the Philippines is
naturally vulnerable to the vagaries of the weather," said
Jessica Reyes-Cantos, head of the Rice Watch and Action Network.
"However, the government continues to resort to [the] quick fix
solution of importing when struck by natural calamity."
Farmers are marginalized after years of neglect, while the
government has failed to "devise strategic and effective
measures" confronting the industry, such as climate change, she
said.
She said only $212.7 million was needed to put in place working
irrigation systems for some 164,000ha of rice fields in the
country, thereby increasing yields.
Ernesto Lactao, a 52-year-old father of two in Isabela province,
said without proper irrigation systems, small farmers like him
had to invest in pumps to draw out ground water, increasing
capital
outlays
but
not
improving
harvests.
What we need now is support from government, price subsidies and
proper irrigation," Lactao told IRIN. "Do
we have to wait until people are dying of
hunger
before
we
get
help?"
El Nio is a weather phenomenon in which warmer water from the
western Pacific Ocean flows towards the east, disrupting
atmospheric
systems.
It creates a major shift in rainfall, bringing floods and
landslides to arid countries and drought to areas in the western
Pacific.