This was announced by the Provincial Community Defense Action Center (PCDAC) on Sunday, Nov. 1, citing forecasts from state weather bureau PAGASA.

A dry spell happens when an area receives significantly less rain than usual for two to three straight months.

This condition creates an extended period of low rainfall that can lead to a full drought if it continues.

The PCDAC urged residents to conserve water and adopt prudent usage habits to mitigate the adverse effects of prolonged dry weather and extreme heat.

The center stressed that precautionary measures are vital to protect households, agricultural crops, and routine daily activities from severe disruption.IMT

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Executive Order No. 129, signed on October 26, allows an additional 280,000 MT of corn imports.

“The country is projected to experience a yellow corn supply deficit of approximately 1.422 million metric tons (MT) from March to December 2026, due to constraints on domestic production and increasing production costs, which may be further aggravated by higher fertilizer, fuel, freight, and other agricultural input costs, as well as weather-related risks, including the potential effects of El Niño,” the EO stated.

Corn is a major ingredient in livestock and poultry feeds, so a shortage could increase production costs and put pressure on pork and poultry prices.

The additional imports will be available to qualified feed manufacturers and farmers producing feeds for their own livestock and poultry operations.

The MAV Management Committee must issue allocation guidelines within 30 days from the order’s effectivity. Marcos Jr. submitted the proposed quota increase to Congress on September 29, and the EO states that it was deemed approved after Congress took no substantive action within the prescribed 15-day period.

The order takes effect upon publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.IMT

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Speaking at the inauguration of the Pamplona Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Barangay Gattu, Pamplona, Cagayan, on Monday, Oct. 26, Marcos Jr. said the government would continue looking for ways to ease farmers’ burdens and improve agricultural productivity.

“Kaya patuloy po ang aming lahat ng ginagawa. Asahan po ninyo na ang inyong pamahalaan ay nandito upang gawin ang lahat ng maaaring gawin upang pagandahin ang hanapbuhay ng ating mga nagsasakripisyo,” he said.

The President said the government was expanding solar-powered irrigation systems to reduce farming expenses and provide a more reliable water supply as weather conditions become less predictable.

Marcos Jr. said about 3,000 solar-powered irrigation systems had been established nationwide since 2022.

He also cited the potential savings from switching to solar-powered systems, saying conventional fuel-dependent irrigation could cost P300,000 to P400,000 a month to operate, compared with P50,000 to P100,000 for solar-powered systems.

The Pamplona project is expected to serve more than 600 hectares of farmland, including an additional 100 hectares that previously had limited access to irrigation.

Marcos Jr. also suggested integrating fish production into irrigation facilities to give farmers an additional source of income.

He urged farmers to share other ideas that could help improve their livelihoods.

“Kung mayroon pa kayong naisip, kung mayroon kayong nakikita na maaari pang gawin, sabihan ninyo kami nang sa ganoon ay kami ay makakapag-responde at kung kayang gawin ng inyong pamahalaan, gagawin po namin,” according to him.IMT

The post Marcos vows more help for farmers as El Niño threat looms first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

During the first Regional El Niño Team Coordination Meeting, agencies agreed to submit weekly reports to track the situation and identify necessary interventions.

Priority areas include food security, water supply, public health, energy, public safety and measures to prevent fires.

The Office of Civil Defense Region (OCD-6) reported that 1,113 families, or 5,565 individuals, have been affected by El Niño.

Meanwhile, the National Irrigation Administration said most irrigation systems and dams remain under normal operating conditions.

However, water levels at the Aklan River Irrigation System East and West have reached critical levels, with an estimated P300 million needed for rehabilitation.

Through regular reporting and inter-agency coordination, government agencies aim to identify emerging needs and respond promptly to protect communities from El Niño’s effects.IMT

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Pangilinan raised the proposal during a Department of Agriculture (DA) budget hearing on October 21, citing agency data showing that five regions were already being affected by the weather phenomenon.

“Ang tanong rin, hindi ba dapat dahil limang rehiyon na ang tinatamaan ng El Niño base sa datos ng DA, hindi ba dapat mag dekara na ng national state of calamity ang ating national government para magkaroon na ng dagdag na suporta at pondo dahil nga narito na ang El Niño?” he said in his opening statement.

The senator said prolonged drought could damage crops, disrupt fisheries and threaten the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk.

“I believe the executive department should seriously consider a state of calamity declaration so we can better address the challenges of Super El Niño,” he added.

Tiu Laurel agreed that the government should act quickly.

“That is a very good idea, in my opinion, and I do agree that mas maganda mag-declare tayo dahil from all indications, it’s a super El Niño—PAGASA, you know everybody in the world is saying it, so I think we better act fast, Mr. Chair,” the agriculture chief said.

Pangilinan is also pushing for the approval of the DA’s proposed P171.3-billion budget for 2027, with irrigation among the priorities.

“Ang national budget na ito ang gagamitin para tuloy na makapagtanim at makapangisda ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda, para merong sapat na suplay ang ating mga pamilihan at makakayanan (bilhin) ng pamilyang Pilipino ang kanilang susunod na kakainin,” he said.

The weather bureau has warned that El Niño’s effects could last until the first half of 2027. The DA estimates that rice production could fall by about 700,000 metric tons in the second half of next year.

High temperatures and water shortages could also affect livestock, fishponds and fisheries.IMT

The post Kiko, DA chief back calamity declaration over Super El Niño first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Board Member Rolito Cajilig, author of the resolution, said the proposed two-month restriction aims to balance supply and demand, strengthen prices received by local producers and shield hog raisers, particularly backyard farmers, from outside competition.

The local lawmaker clarified that the proposed ban would apply only within Iloilo province.

Data from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian showed that Iloilo had 136,770 hogs as of October 2026, comprising 111,890 backyard-raised hogs and 24,880 commercial hogs. The province’s swine supply sufficiency level stood at 87.21%.

Shipment records showed that 19,775 live hogs entered Iloilo from July 21 to September 30, 2026, from Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental and Palawan. Another 2,625 hogs were recorded as entering the province in October.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinarian’s price monitoring report as of October 13 showed live hog prices ranging from P130 to P170 per kilogram, while pork sold at markets and roadside stalls ranged from P220 to P340 per kilogram.

The proposed restriction seeks to support local producers amid continuing concerns over hog prices and competition from livestock brought into the province.

The resolution calls on the DA to implement the temporary ban during the specified period.IMT

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Data from the Local Economic Enterprise Office showed that the city slaughterhouse processed 66,615 hogs, 773 cattle and 5,369 carabaos from January to mid-October this year.

The data also showed a gradual monthly increase in the number of hogs processed at the facility.

“Our supply is okay. There are also imports coming in, which we cannot control at the local government level because shipment approvals are handled nationally,” Iloilo City Veterinarian Dr. Fernando Abulencia said in a media interview Friday, 16.

Abulencia said the city government is strengthening meat safety inspections, including stricter monitoring of illegal slaughtering and sale of uninspected meat, to protect public health.

“We have regular joint inspections with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS),” he said.

Abulencia also expressed hope that the city council would pass an ordinance imposing penalties on those selling contaminated meat. He noted that some violators continued selling so-called “hot meat,” or meat from animals slaughtered without proper inspection, even after being apprehended.

“An executive order has no penal provision. Once our ordinance is approved, we will not only penalize the seller but also those who patronize buying the hot meat,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NMIS will conduct a series of activities for the 33rd Meat Safety Consciousness Week from Oct. 19 to 25, including advocacy seminars on hygienic meat handling and enforcement operations in various markets to check compliance with food safety standards.

This year’s celebration carries the theme “One Mission, One Commitment: Safety and Quality for All.”PNA

The post Iloilo City assures sufficient livestock supply first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

The declaration, recommended by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), was approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Thursday, Oct. 15.

The move came after three heavily impacted local government units separately declared their own states of calamity: Passi City, which reported a staggering 99% infestation rate; Dueñas, at 98%; and San Enrique, at 58%.

The province-wide declaration will allow local authorities to tap into emergency response funds and expedite assistance to affected agricultural workers and farmers across the province.IMT

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The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Iloilo PDRRMC) reviewed the drought situation during a meeting that also tackled preparations for El Niño and updates on the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation.

The affected municipalities are Lambunao, San Enrique, Dueñas, Banate, Janiuay, Bingawan, Lemery and Concepcion. Reported damage covers rice, corn and high-value commercial crops.

To mitigate the drought’s impact, the council discussed irrigation support to maintain water access and protect standing crops, as well as the use of solar-powered pumps to provide more reliable and potentially lower-cost irrigation.

Cloud seeding was also raised as a possible intervention to augment rainfall and help ease drought conditions.

The council likewise reviewed concerns surrounding the RSSI infestation as the province continues to address agricultural threats and strengthen disaster preparedness.

The reported losses underscore the need for sustained interventions to protect crops and support farmers as drought conditions persist.IMT

The post Drought affects 6,752 hectares of farmland in 8 Iloilo towns first appeared on Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Pangilinan filed two bills seeking to make bank financing more accessible to small-scale fishers, who often have difficulty getting loans because they lack conventional collateral.

Under Senate Bill No. 2514, or the proposed Fisheries Asset Collateralization Act, movable assets such as boats, fishing gear, cold storage, receivables from fish sales and future catch could be registered and used as collateral.

“Ang pinakamagandang paraan para mapakita natin ang pagpapahalaga natin sa ating mga mangingisda ay bigyan sila ng patas at abot-kayang access sa puhunan,” Pangilinan said.

The also filed SB 2513, which seeks to set aside a portion of the credit quota for agriculture and fisheries specifically for fisheries and aquaculture projects.

Under the measure, at least half of that allocation would go to small-scale fisherfolk.

Pangilinan said easier access to financing would allow fishers to repair or improve their boats, acquire equipment and invest in cold storage, post-harvest facilities and other livelihood activities.

The senator warned that the lack of financing for fishers could eventually affect the country’s fish supply and prices.

“Kapag hindi natutulungang makautang ang mga mangingisda para magkaroon sila ng kapasidad na makahuli ng mas madami, apektado ang supply ng isda. At kapag ganyan ang nangyayari, tataas na naman ang presyo sa merkado at mas kakaunti na naman ang kakayaning bilhin ng ating mga mamimili,” he said.IMT

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