Pangilinan urges emergency declaration as Super El Niño batters Philippines

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Wednesday pressed for the declaration of a national state of emergency, citing the mounting damage inflicted by the Super El Niño phenomenon on Philippine communities and agricultural sectors.

Pangilinan made his appeal during a Senate hearing focused on the Department of Agriculture's proposed P171.3-billion budget for the coming fiscal year. The senator underscored the need for an elevated emergency response to address the widespread impacts of the weather phenomenon.

Recent reports indicate that the Super El Niño has affected more than 451,000 people across multiple regions, disrupting farming operations, water supplies, and livelihoods. The agricultural sector has borne particular strain as drought conditions persist in key farming areas.

An emergency declaration would enable the government to mobilize additional resources and implement coordinated relief measures to mitigate the Super El Niño's effects. Pangilinan's call reflects growing pressure on policymakers to escalate the national response to what has become one of the most significant climate-related challenges the country has faced in recent years.