SEN. Francis Escudero wants Malacañang to draw up a contingency plan for the agriculture sector, as he cited the negative effects of the lingering dry spell.
“El Niño means adverse conditions for our agriculture sector. The government needs to come up with a contingency plan that will assure our farmers of minimal impact on their livelihood and, at the same time, ensure that food supply will not be disrupted too much,” Escudero was quoted in a statement as saying.
Documents from Escudero’s office said that since Angat Dam reached the 180-meter critical level for irrigation supply in May, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) has stopped water releases for Bulacan and Pampanga farmers’ irrigation needs.
However, Metro Manila will continue to draw water from the Angat reservoir unless the water level further falls to 160 meters when water release will be limited.
The NWRB has said it cut down the water allocation to 41 cubic meters per second (cumecs) from 43 cumecs to private water concessionaries Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. beginning July 1 “as a precautionary measure.”
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier projected the country could experience the full impact of the El Niño episode in the last quarter of 2015. This means that more provinces, including Bulacan where Angat Dam is located, will experience “way below normal” amount of rainfall.
Escudero said “early planning may avoid a costly importation program and allow a studious review of spending activities for agriculture.” He, however, didn’t cite a deadline or schedule when he wants the plan seen.
Escudero, who is seen gunning for the vice-president post in the 2016 elections, added the government should consider realigning its economic pump-priming program to the agriculture sector to address the effects of the dry spell.