Government rolls out assistance program for farmers hit by El Niño drought

The Office of Civil Defense reported that the government is providing a comprehensive assistance package to farmers suffering from the El Niño-induced drought. According to spokesperson Junie Castillo, the support covers crop insurance, production assistance and irrigation initiatives aimed at safeguarding food security. The Department of Agriculture is leading the effort under the National Action Plan on El Niño, with multiple provinces and municipalities having declared a state of calamity.

Affected areas span several regions, such as Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga. Authorities are also conducting cloud-seeding operations and urging water-conservation practices to mitigate the impact.