A House leader on Tuesday recommended setting up a financial safety net to support farmers affected by the El Niño phenomenon.

In a statement, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar said the government should create a fund that farmers may tap for assistance to cushion the possible impacts of the weather phenomenon, particularly on agricultural production.

“It is important to discuss this now and prepare for contingency measures especially for our small-scale farmers,” Villar said.

Villar cited a previous El Niño episode in the country in 2019, which cost the agriculture sector an estimated PHP8 billion in damage.

“In previous El Nino episodes in the Philippines, there were severe dry conditions that affected the agricultural sector and wrought damage to other essential sectors in billions of pesos. It was also during El Nino that powerful typhoons struck the country,” she said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) last week announced the onset of the El Niño phenomenon, which is currently “weak” but likely to show “signs of strengthening in the coming months.”

Experts warned that the El Niño would most likely lead to a new spike in temperatures and trigger more extreme weather and climate events, with crops feeling mostly the impact that could affect food security in the regions.

Villar pointed out that more than 30 provinces may experience dry spells or below normal rainfall conditions in the coming months up to next year.

“We need to be better prepared and ready to extend assistance to farmers whose livelihoods are at risk so that they can have some sort of safety net or social protection either in the form of loans, direct cash assistance or cash-for-work,” she said.

Villar earlier filed House Resolution 1024 to look into possible government interventions for the different sectors in the light of the return of El Niño. (PNA)