CAD preps for drought

WITH or without the El Niño phenomenon, the Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) is not taking chances — it has started preparations for the weather phenomenon that can bring prolonged drought and affect farmers.

The CAD has a P38 million budget for 2025, according to CAD head Arleigh Gesta.

Gesta, however, said the budget is not enough to assist over 12,000 farmers in the city, adding that the ideal budget should be P50 million.

Low chance

The El Niño phenomenon has a low chance of occurring this year, according to a weather expert from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Visayas.

Despite this, Gesta told SunStar Cebu on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, that they have begun distributing water drums and hoses to farmers in areas with water sources.

Farmers in upland barangays are also creating their own water impounding areas to collect runoff from creeks.

Supplemental budget

City Councilor Noel Wenceslao, chairman of the finance committee, said the Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) can request a supplemental budget if it lacks funds.

The council approved only P38 million from the proposed P52 million for CAD in 2025. Wenceslao explained that the reduction was due to CAD spending less than P40 million in 2024.

Despite the budget limitations, CAD will continue its programs, including crop production extension, livestock production, alternative marketing, nursery production, reforestation, institutional development, urban agriculture and food security initiatives.

CAD is also updating farmer profiles to ensure that all registered farmers receive assistance.

Gesta said around 1,000 farmers have been added to the registry system for basic sectors in agriculture, bringing the total to 10,976 registered farmers.

He recalled that some unregistered farmers did not receive additional rice aid last year. To avoid a repeat of the problem, CAD is going barangay to barangay to update records.

Meanwhile, Eclarino said there is only a 30 percent chance of the El Niño occurring this year; however, he said this probability may change.

CAD has also launched an information campaign to guide farmers on suitable crops to plant.

Gesta advised them to avoid crops with long growing periods and plant those that can be harvested within 45 days to reduce costs.

Effects in 2024

The El Niño caused severe agricultural losses in Cebu City in 2024.

In April last year, the drought affected 10,000 farmers, with 1,047 farmers suffering direct losses. The National Irrigation Administration reported that about 454 hectares of farmland were affected.

Water shortages forced the City Government to declare a water crisis on April 1, 2024. Farmers struggled as less than 20 out of 44 irrigation facilities remained functional.

The Cebu City Government placed 28 hinterland villages under a state of calamity in March 2024 due to El Niño’s impact.

To mitigate losses, CAD trained farmers on water conservation and identified new water sources for irrigation last year. The agency also provided emergency food assistance, including rice and groceries.

Despite these efforts, some farmers criticized the delayed response from the government. They called for better coordination and faster aid distribution.

Also in April last year, City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. accused then CAD chief Joselito Baclayon of failing to come up with plans to address the plight of farmers.

Nationwide, the El Niño phenomenon, which started on July 4, 2023, was one of the strongest on record.

Pagasa said it was the fifth-most powerful globally and caused P2.63 billion in agricultural losses. The main crops affected were rice and corn, leading to food insecurity.

The weather bureau declared the end of the El Niño phenomenon on June 7, 2024. / JPS