Amid ongoing El Niño conditions, which AccuWeather describes as a climate pattern that raises sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and results in drought conditions due to reduced rainfall, Leyte second district Rep. Henry Ong is calling for banks to provide debt relief for drought-affected farmers and fisherfolk.

“Droughts bring financial hardship to farmers and fisherfolk,” he said. “For crop failures, the banks and other lenders must have condonation, debt restructuring, and other debt payment relief.”

Earlier this week, Kabalikat ng Mamamayan (Kabayan) partylist Rep. Ron Salo urged President Rodrigo Duterte to declare a “State of Emergency” amid the ongoing dry spell caused by El Niño.

The partylist congressman said such declarations would allow for the immediate release of disaster relief funds, which would provide direct aid to families hard hit by the drought conditions.

He also said the administration could tap the $500 million World Bank disaster relief fund, which the Department of Finance said is available when needed.

Based on the latest monitoring by the Negros Occidental Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, combined crop damage caused by El Niño and various pests has reached P60.6 million./WDJ