MANILA— Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has urged the government to accelerate assistance to farmers and vulnerable communities affected by El Niño, calling for the immediate release of available funds, protection of food and water supplies, and stronger action against hoarding and profiteering.

In a statement, Pangilinan said agricultural losses had reached ₱7 billion across Cagayan Valley, Bicol, CALABARZON, SOCCSKSARGEN and CARAGA, stressing the need for immediate government intervention.

“May pondo ang gobyerno para sa mga kalamidad. Kailangan lang correct at hindi korap spending,” Pangilinan said.

During a Department of Budget and Management (DBM) budget hearing, Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon expressed support for a whole-of-government response and identified approximately ₱112 billion in funding across current-year agency budgets, including ₱39 billion in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.

Pangilinan said these resources should be translated into safe water, agricultural protection, affordable food and timely assistance for people whose livelihoods have been affected.

He outlined eight proposed actions covering disaster declarations, fund releases, relief distribution, agricultural and water infrastructure protection, price controls, enforcement against profiteering, livelihood recovery and public accountability.

Under the first measure, Pangilinan called on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and local governments to consolidate weather forecasts, damage assessments, water supply conditions and food production risks for submission to the President.

He cited Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which provides for declarations of a state of calamity, and Republic Act No. 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act, which allows anticipatory action in areas facing highly probable disasters, including droughts.

Pangilinan said each declaration should be accompanied by an operational plan identifying beneficiaries, assistance to be provided, responsible agencies, available funding and delivery schedules.

He also urged the DBM and concerned agencies to submit within 48 hours a consolidated report detailing available funds, existing commitments, required approvals, release schedules and implementation gaps.

While citing the approximately ₱112 billion identified during the budget hearing, he stressed the need to distinguish existing appropriations and available balances from amounts that can actually be used for specific El Niño interventions.

He also referred to an estimated ₱104 billion proposed for El Niño-related measures in the 2027 National Expenditure Program, clarifying that the amount remained a proposed allocation and was not yet available for spending.

For immediate relief, Pangilinan called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DA, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Office of Civil Defense and local governments to prepare plans for distributing food, drinking water, medicines, hygiene supplies and other necessities.

He said authorities should identify available supplies, storage facilities, transportation arrangements and personnel, while preparing water tankers, pumps, treatment equipment and repair teams for deployment.

Small farmers and fisherfolk, low-income households, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and geographically isolated communities should receive priority, he added.

Pangilinan also urged the DA, National Irrigation Administration, water agencies, utilities and local governments to develop area-specific contingency plans to protect farms, fisheries and water systems.

Immediate measures should include repairing irrigation facilities, communal water systems, pumps and distribution lines, as well as publishing irrigation schedules and water supply advisories.

Within the following month, he called for crop-specific planting advice, support for livestock and aquaculture, water-saving practices and measures to protect harvests and maintain access to storage, transportation and markets.

On consumer protection, Pangilinan urged the Department of Trade and Industry, DA, Department of Health and Price Coordinating Council to publish applicable price freezes and ceilings, monitor essential goods in affected markets and establish accessible complaint channels.

He cited the Price Act, or Republic Act No. 7581, which provides for an automatic price freeze on basic necessities following a declaration of a state of calamity, as well as provisions allowing the President to impose price ceilings under specified circumstances.

Pangilinan also called for criminal and administrative cases against those responsible for hoarding, profiteering and cartels involving basic necessities and prime commodities, saying enforcement should extend beyond frontline sellers to the owners and organizers of such operations.

He cited penalties under the Price Act, including imprisonment of five to 15 years and fines ranging from ₱5,000 to ₱2 million for illegal price manipulation upon conviction.

For livelihood recovery, Pangilinan called on government financial institutions to publish procedures for providing no-interest loans to the most affected sectors through cooperatives and people’s organizations, as provided under RA 10121 following a state-of-calamity declaration.

He said assistance should cover both household needs and the restoration of livelihoods, particularly for farmers and fisherfolk who have suffered reduced harvests or catches.

Finally, Pangilinan urged the President to direct the NDRRMC, through the Office of Civil Defense and concerned agencies, to maintain a coordinated El Niño action plan with designated officials, measurable targets and regular public reports.

He proposed a public dashboard tracking funds released and spent, relief supplies delivered, households assisted, agricultural and water interventions completed, price complaints addressed and cases filed.

Pangilinan said he would seek updated funding and implementation reports before the Senate plenary and pursue oversight to ensure that commitments made during the budget hearing result in actual assistance for affected communities.

He also urged the public to conserve water and electricity, report leaking pipes and flag suspected profiteering.

“Hindi natin kontrolado ang panahon. Pero tungkulin nating huwag hayaang lumala ang pinsalang maaari nating maagapan. Unahan natin ang krisis. Madaliin ang tulong. Protektahan ang pagkain, tubig, at kabuhayan ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” Pangilinan said.