The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office XII (DA-RFO XII) has intensified its preparations and early interventions against the potential impacts of El Niño in SOCCSKSARGEN, as climate outlooks point to increasingly dry conditions in parts of Mindanao toward the end of 2026 and early 2027.
Based on the seasonal climate outlook presented by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), most areas of Mindanao are expected to experience generally near-normal rainfall from September to October 2026. However, rainfall is forecast to become generally below normal from November 2026 to January 2027, with below-normal conditions expected to become more widespread in December.
For SOCCSKSARGEN, the outlook also indicates increasingly prolonged dry conditions. While most areas are expected to experience 16-25 dry days per month, the number could rise to 26-31 dry days by January 2027, signaling heightened concern for agricultural production.
Temperatures are likewise forecast to remain near-average to above-average from September 2026 to January 2027, with above-average temperature anomalies expected to persist over several parts of Mindanao.
These projections have prompted DA-RFO XII led by Regional Executive Director John B. Pascual to strengthen its monitoring, preparedness and early recovery measures, particularly in areas and commodities identified as vulnerable to drought.
Using the Rapid Assessment Tool developed during the DA’s El Niño Response Action Planning Workshop held from June 1–5, 2026, DA-RFO XII assessed historical El Niño impacts alongside seasonal climate forecasts to identify potential high-risk areas for agriculture and fisheries.
The assessment identified Sultan Kudarat as the high-priority province, having experienced seven out of eight historical El Niño occurrences and having three commodities: rice, corn and high-value crops, classified as high risk from the past years.
Cotabato was also identified as a priority area, with rice and corn consistently vulnerable to drought and a moderate likelihood of drought occurrence.
In South Cotabato, rice and corn remain highly susceptible despite a low drought outlook, based on historical production losses. Meanwhile, Sarangani has comparatively lower overall risk, although corn remains highly vulnerable and requires priority mitigation measures.
Across the region, the assessment underscores the need to protect farmers whose livelihoods are most exposed to prolonged dry conditions.
As part of its early recovery preparations, Director Pascual said that the DA-RFO XII has begun prepositioning agricultural inputs and other resources that can be immediately deployed to affected farmers.
Among the buffer stocks are 1,970 bags of yellow corn seeds and rice seeds consisting of 846 bags delivered, 8,635 bags for delivery in September–October 2026, and 13,454 bags also scheduled for delivery in September–October 2026.
The regional office is also preparing 200 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds under the High Value Crops Development Program.
To help address pest-related risks that may accompany changing field conditions, DA-RFO XII is also prepositioning rodenticides under the Rice Program, as well as 880 boxes of Ratkil and 633 boxes of insecticide under the Corn Program.
Water security remains another major component of the region’s El Niño preparations.
DA-RFO XII is optimizing and procuring Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS), with eight SPIS and two diversion dams undergoing rehabilitation. A total of 56 SPIS have already been completed and turned over across various municipalities through funding from 2016 to 2023.
The agency is also procuring 30 mobile SPIS units under FY 2026. Of these, six units have already been delivered under the Organic Agriculture Program, three are for delivery, and 21 are for downloading of funds under the High Value Crops Development Program.
Beyond physical interventions, DA-RFO XII is strengthening field monitoring and support mechanisms to help farmers respond to emerging risks.
These include continuous monitoring and surveillance of pests and diseases, validation of planting targets, monitoring of standing crops, and facilitation of Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) crop insurance.
DA-RFO XII is likewise promoting and upscaling Alternate Wetting and Drying as a water-saving technology for rice production.
Weather and climate information will also remain a critical part of the agency’s response. Farmers and local government units receive regular weather and climate updates through daily weather advisories and forecasts, the 10-day Farm Weather Outlook and Advisory (FWOA), Regional Seasonal Climate Outlook and Advisory (RSCOA), Special Farm Weather Outlook and Advisory (SFWOA), and El Niño advisories.
The region is also strengthening its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Information System (DRRMIS), a web-based platform designed to automate the reporting of damage and losses during calamities and maintain historical records that can improve damage assessment and reporting.
The system establishes a reporting and validation process involving municipal and provincial local government units, DA operating units and the DA Central Office, ensuring that damage reports are reviewed, verified and approved before being used for decision-making.
“The preparations are informed not only by forecasts but also by actual experiences of farmers during previous periods of moisture stress,” Director Pascual said.
Historical El Niño damage records from 2016 to 2024, together with drought susceptibility maps from the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute and climate and risk maps under the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture, are also being used to guide preparedness and response planning.
With the possibility of prolonged dry conditions in the months ahead, DA-RFO XII’s approach centers on acting before the full effects of El Niño are felt in farms and communities.
From securing seeds and crop protection inputs, expanding solar-powered irrigation, managing available water, strengthening weather monitoring, facilitating crop insurance and financial assistance, to identifying high-risk commodities and areas, the agency is putting
in place interventions designed to reduce potential production losses and help farmers remain resilient.
“For us, preparedness is not only about responding when losses occur – it is about using climate information, historical experience and field data to act early and help protect farmers, their livelihoods and the region’s food production from the challenges posed by El Niño,” Director Pascual underscored. (Nichole Paul B. Agapay)