CCNCI UNITES WITH BATANGAS FARMERS IN PREPARING FOR THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF AN INCOMING SUPER EL NINO 🌾

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The Climate Change Network for Community-based Initiatives and Kasama-TK held a forum with local farmers of Batangas to address the looming threat of a Super El Niño that has a 92% probability of occurrence, with temperatures predicted to rise as high as 2.5°C which would surpass the hottest Super El Niño that was recorded in 2016.

The discussion opened with an assessment of what this crisis means for farming communities. To this day, most farms still remain entirely dependent on rainfall, leaving them vulnerable to the prolonged droughts that an El Niño of this magnitude would bring. Beyond their crops, farmers raised grave concerns over its cascading effects on their livestock, water supplies, and ultimately, their lives.

Despite the severe threat it poses to their livelihood, the government has yet to adopt meaningful, long-term preparations. Rather than address the vulnerabilities that leave farming communities exposed, they have resorted to band-aid solutions. Farmers argue that these programs are only designed to placate their discontent. The government has yet to dole out climate compensation for the immense losses occurred by farmers during extreme periods of drought.

In the face of institutional neglect, Batangeño farmers have decided to take matters into their own hands. As a concrete step toward collective preparedness, with the guidance of Kasama-TK, an El Niño Task Force is set to be formed which will coordinate efforts in preparing for the incoming calamity.