Rowegie Abanto

Farmers in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, show rice fields affected by the dry spell caused by the drying of rivers due to the El Niño phenomenon in this photo issued on February 25, 2024. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News/File

Farmers in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, show rice fields affected by the dry spell caused by the drying of rivers due to the El Niño phenomenon in this photo issued on February 25, 2024. The farmers in the province have appealed for assistance as the dry spell severely affects their livelihood and source of food, prompting the provincial government to declare a state of calamity on February 26.
Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

EL NINO- MINDORO

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176785309825720240225-el-nino-oriental-mindoro-DD-10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Farmers in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, show rice fields affected by the dry spell caused by the drying of rivers due to the El Niño phenomenon in this photo issued on February 25, 2024. Dennis Datu, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is bracing for a “mild” La Niña and El Niño this year, Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Thursday, adding that he is more worried about the intensity of typhoons.“This year hindi naman drastic ang La Niña and El Niño. It’s supposed to be mild,” the Agriculture chief told Palace reporters.“Ang kinakatakot ko lang this year is yung bagyo,” he said.The DA is looking to expand the number of its greenhouses in the country to secure high-value crops when typhoons hit, Laurel said.He noted that the Philippines only has 500 hectares of greenhouses, which is far fewer than South Korea’s 50,000 hectares.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/8/agri-dept-eyes-reducing-cost-of-farm-to-market-roads-1411">Agri dept eyes reducing cost of farm-to-market roads</a></div>The budget for greenhouses, which allow farmers to plant and produce even during heavy rainfall or lack of water, had been augmented, he said, without giving an exact amount. The government also needs to allocate about P200 billion annually for the next 5 years for the Philippines to become fully irrigated, Laurel said.In 2024, the Philippines suffered hundreds of millions of agricultural losses after droughts and dry spells damaged crops across the country.In the same year, the Philippines inaugurated greenhouses and post-harvest facilities with the help of South Korea, as the Southeast Asian country pushed to modernize agriculture and build resilience to climate change.

The Department of Agriculture is bracing for a “mild” La Niña and El Niño this year, Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Thursday, adding that he is more worried about the intensity of typhoons.

The Department of Agriculture is bracing for a “mild” La Niña and El Niño this year, Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Thursday, adding that he is more worried about the intensity of typhoons.

Agri dept braces for 'mild' El Niño, La Niña in 2026

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Agri dept braces for 'mild' El Niño, La Niña in 2026

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 08, 2026 02:34 PM PHT

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Department of Agriculture

DA

La Niña

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Agriculture

Francisco Tiu-Laurel

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