Call for Proactive Response as Drought Strikes: Lawmaker Urges Immediate Deployment of Quick Response Funds

Amid a severe drought affecting various regions, Agri party-list lawmaker Wilbert Lee is urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to quickly disburse a P1-billion Quick Response Fund (QRF) to assist impacted provinces. This plea comes as rising temperatures and prolonged dry conditions prompt a series of calamity declarations across at least 20 local government units due to El Niño effects.

The call to action follows the declaration of a state of calamity in San Enrique, Negros Occidental, where Lee highlighted the urgent need for agricultural support. “We should expect more areas to be placed under a state of calamity amid the massive drought, and the DA should ensure that it is ready to release the QRF to the regional office if need be so the relief to our farmers would be immediate,” Lee stated.

San Enrique, a significant rice-producing area with a population of approximately 26,000, has seen 90% of its rice fields dry up, leaving farmers unable to replant under the current adverse weather conditions. Lee emphasized the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, noting that lives and livelihoods are at risk.

Additionally, Lee has called for coordinated efforts with the state weather bureau PAGASA for potential cloud-seeding operations to induce rainfall and alleviate the drought’s impact. He referenced successful cloud-seeding operations conducted in February in the Cagayan Valley, which resulted in light to moderate rainfall, suggesting this could be replicated in the hardest-hit areas.

This initiative underscores the critical need for immediate and effective governmental action to mitigate the effects of El Niño and support the agricultural sector during these challenging times.