DA forms climate change panel

MANILA, Philippines — A climate change panel has been formed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) amid La Niña’s expected damage to the agriculture sector.

The climate resilient agriculture steering committee is tasked with providing strategic direction in mobilizing DA resources to address climate change.

“In exigency of service, the mainstreaming, integrating and implementing of climate-related policies, plans, projects and activities in our department shall be operationalized as a strategic approach to strengthen our climate resilience efforts, manage the risk of climate-related disasters and contribute to the stability of food supply and prices,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Tiu Laurel issued Special Order No. 703 to operationalize the DA Climate Resilient Agriculture Office, appointing Agriculture Undersecretary for policy, planning and regulations Asis Perez as head of the CRAO.

The committee would harmonize climate action in all DA operating units, including the application of digital technology, Tiu Laurel noted.

It is also authorized to monitor sector-wide climate action planning, he added.

“The CRAO may engage the services of science and technical experts who will form its pool of climate science experts, as may be required in the performance of the office’s role and functions, including the conduct of strategic policy and planning studies,” he said.

The DA is preparing for the worst-case scenario, especially in areas previously hit by La Niña, said Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa.

“Just like what we did during El Niño, we prepared for the worst. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that we will have a moderate El Niño but it said that there is a chance it will become strong to severe, so we prepared for the worst,” he said.

Around 120,000 hectares of plantations are expected to be affected in the worst-case scenario, he noted.

“So far, only half of our projected number of hectares were damaged. It’s a good preparatory procedure that we implemented,” he added.

De Mesa said based on PAGASA’s projection, the country will be hit by La Niña in the