Twenty senators from across the political spectrum have asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity or imminent disaster in areas affected or threatened by super El Niño, citing mounting agricultural losses and delays in assistance to rural communities.
The lawmakers filed Proposed Senate Resolution 765 on Monday, urging the President to act upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) under Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, and Republic Act 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act.
Former presidential adviser on agriculture Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Senate President Win Gatchalian, Senate President Pro Tempore Tito Sotto and 17 other senators signed the resolution.
Pangilinan stressed the urgency of providing water to farmers as the planting season for rice crops continues, while calling for measures to prevent unreasonable price increases and supply manipulation.
“Planting season ngayon sa ating mga palayan, at kailangan ng tubig. Kailangan mag-plant din tayo ng mga remedial measure tulad ng pag-impose ng price ceilings, at laban sa overpricing, profiteering, at hoarding,” he said.
The resolution cited a Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration report indicating that a strong to very strong El Niño was already present in the Tropical Pacific. The weather phenomenon could peak before the end of 2026 and continue affecting the country through the first half of 2027.
Agricultural losses had reached approximately P6.87 billion across 249,028 hectares as of Sept. 26, 2026, equivalent to 43 percent of the damage recorded throughout the 2023-2024 El Niño, according to figures cited in the resolution.
By Oct. 6, a total of 106 cities and municipalities in Cagayan Valley, Caraga, Bicol, Calabarzon and Soccsksargen had declared local states of calamity, with around 388,375 people affected.
The senators also raised concerns over the reach of government assistance. Of the Department of Agriculture’s 11.12 million target beneficiaries, only 2.53 million, or 22.8 percent, had received assistance, the resolution said.
The lawmakers called on the Department of Budget and Management and other concerned agencies to immediately mobilize eligible funds under the 2026 national budget, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund and agency Quick Response Funds.
The resolution cited approximately P112 billion in aggregate national resources for the remainder of 2026, including about P39 billion for the disaster fund. It also sought a clear accounting of the funds available and eligible for the government’s El Niño response.
Under the disaster risk reduction law, a calamity declaration allows the government to implement remedial measures, including the reprogramming of funds for the repair and upgrading of public infrastructure and facilities and the provision of no-interest loans to the most affected sectors, subject to applicable laws.
The senators identified farm inputs, irrigation and water support, livestock assistance, crop insurance and food aid for affected farmers and fisherfolk as priority interventions.
They also urged agencies to monitor prices of basic necessities and prime commodities in affected areas, address overpricing, profiteering and hoarding, and regularly report to the Senate on fund mobilization, assistance distribution and price monitoring.
Aside from Pangilinan, the resolution was signed by Gatchalian, Sotto, Senators Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Migz Zubiri, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, JV Ejercito, Lito Lapid, Joel Villanueva, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Ping Lacson, Chiz Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Bong Go, Camille Villar and Mark Villar.
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