CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 and the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Mindanao
Regional Services Division have forged a strategic partnership to shield Northern Mindanao’s
food supply from an impending strong El Niño.

During the El Niño Preparedness Press Conference on August 25, Department of Agriculture
(DA)-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan said the agency is working with
PAGASA and local government units (LGUs) to use rainfall forecasts to pinpoint vulnerable
farmlands, position seeds, and adjust planting calendars.
Pacamalan emphasized the importance of weather-based planning, pointing out that farmers need
to anchor their planting schedules on PAGASA’s weather forecasts.
He said DA-10 is tightening coordination with LGUs to ensure planned interventions reach the
farmer level.
To formalize this collaboration, DA-10 and PAGASA will sign a memorandum of agreement
(MOA) to drive a high-precision, climate-tracking network for improved forecasting and
monitoring of weather patterns in Northern Mindanao.

“Today, we will sign a memorandum of agreement with PAGASA to support a sophisticated
weather information system,” Pacamalan said.
PAGASA Mindanao Weather Services Chief Anianita Fortich said the pact goes beyond formal
commitments by strengthening government response to climate-related risks affecting agriculture
and food security.
“This is the second synoptic and agrometeorological station in the whole of Mindanao. Most
importantly, it brings PAGASA and DA closer together in addressing the links between weather,
climate, agriculture, and food security,” Fortich said.
She explained that farmers rely heavily on weather information to make decisions throughout the
production cycle, including when to plant and harvest, apply fertilizers, and prepare for heavy
rain or drought.
“These decisions become better and safer when supported by reliable and timely scientific
information,” Fortich said.
Meanwhile, DA-10 has mapped areas vulnerable to the effects of El Niño to guide the
government’s interventions. In Northern Mindanao, about 49,000 hectares of rice areas have
been identified as vulnerable during the dry season, while around 88,000 hectares are expected to
be less affected and could provide an estimated 204 days of rice supply for the region.
The agency is also preparing buffer stocks, strengthening pest and disease control measures,
coordinating with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and positioning interventions in
areas with better water availability. These measures complement DA-10’s longer-term efforts to
improve soil health through organic farming, farm diversification, and other sustainable farming
systems to help farmers better withstand changing weather conditions.
For its part, PAGASA continues to monitor rainfall and climate indicators as the region prepares
for the projected El Niño. Fortich explained that drought may occur in different forms, including
meteorological, agricultural, socio-economic, and hydrological drought, pointing out the
importance of timely and science-based information in guiding government interventions.
Fortich said a very strong El Niño is expected in the last quarter of the year, with conditions
potentially comparable to major El Niño events recorded in 1982-1983, 1997-1998, and 2015-

2016. She also stressed that rainfall during El Niño may vary across locations, making localized
      forecasts and continuous monitoring important in agricultural planning.
      By working closely with PAGASA and local government units, Pacamalan said the government
      aims to give farmers up-to-date weather information, effectively plan agricultural support,
      safeguard food production, and enhance Northern Mindanao’s readiness for the possible effects
      of El Niño. (Recthie T. Paculba/PIA-10)