On top of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero today cited allocations under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, including P730.9 million for small‑scale irrigation projects and P500 million for upland irrigation systems and small water impounding projects, which can be mobilized to strengthen farmers’ resilience to El Niño.
To this end, the Bicolano senator underscored the need to combine immediate aid with long‑term investments in irrigation and productivity programs, saying these budget allocations provide government with concrete options to help farmers withstand the looming dry spell.
“This allocation can be tapped to help farmers strengthen their resilience against El Niño. Short‑term aid is important, but we also need structural programs that strengthen production and give farmers the capacity to withstand drought and rising fuel prices,” Escudero said.
“Ang mahalaga ay matulungan silang makabangon at makapagpatuloy sa produksyon, upang manatiling matatag ang ating suplay ng pagkain kahit sa gitna ng krisis,” he added.
Escudero’s statement came as the National Irrigation Administration–Cordillera (NIA‑CAR) announced measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño, including strict scheduling and rotation of water distribution, desilting and clearing of canals, and plans to deploy additional water pumps to vulnerable areas across Abra, Apayao, and Kalinga.
Of the 69,270 hectares served by NIA‑CAR, some 2,780 hectares have been identified as at risk.
It will be recalled that the veteran legislator has urged the national government to tap the P30‑billion RCEF, created under Republic Act No. 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law, for long‑term interventions. He pointed to the P15‑billion allocation for “Other Priority Programs” that could be redirected to irrigation, credit, and productivity projects.
As the nation continues to reel from rising fuel costs due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, agriculture authorities continue to warn of a moderate to strong El Niño later this year, with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raising the likelihood of development to 79 percent by June.