This is no ordinary Earth Day. Right now, over a million farmers, farm workers, and fisherfolk across the country are being plagued by severe drought. The scorching heat brought by El Niño is leading to massive agricultural damage and water shortages. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 314,993 individuals or 1,481,598 persons have been affected by El Niño in 1,530 barangays in Regions II, III, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII, IX, XII, CAR and BARMM[1]. Agricultural damage of drought is already nearing Php 2 billion as the El Niño phenomenon intensifies, according to the Department of Agriculture. The damage approximately covers 32,231 hectares of farm lands and has already displaced 29,437 farmers.
In urban cities, we continue to witness workers toil under the burning heat while quality education is compromised as classes are being suspended due to high temperatures. From the rural towns to the urban cities, people feel the lament of our dry land.
Thus, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines laments the current situation of our parched land and starving people. We are gravely disturbed by the apparent gap between the needs of the affected communities and government assistance, as we continue to receive reports from our local churches and ecumenical partners of the dire situation of our farmers. At this point, where loss of livelihood means starvation and death for the poorest; time is of the essence, and urgency in aid delivery is of utmost cruciality.
Still and all, NCCP believes that this intense El Niño and its impacts are proof that the ongoing climate crisis is strongly linked with the chronic social crisis of poverty, hunger, and landlessness that are already prevalent among the poor. We are witnessing how the poorest of the poor are the most vulnerable to the climate crisis, with its impacts even aggravating their conditions.
Compelled by the Christian edict to be with our neighbors in need, we echo the call of our farmers and fisherfolks for aid and agricultural support. We call on the Philippine government, specifically the Department of Agriculture, to urgently release production subsidy of P15,000 to farmers and fishers. The administration also has to acknowledge that this intense El Niño is an impact of the climate crisis; thus, requires long-term adaptation strategies and solutions starting with the development of irrigation systems, nationalization of climate-resilient crops, and long-term agricultural support.
Moreover, we strongly demand the government to ramp up its climate action and review its development strategies that put importance to the interests of foreign investments and big businesses over the proper utilization and sustainability of the environment. Our churches, people of faith, and communities are witnesses on how the destruction of our environment –through land reclamation, large-scale mining, construction of mega dams, and land-use conversion – contribute to the people’s vulnerability to the impacts of the climate crisis.
We appeal to our churches and ecumenical partners to accompany and to assist affected communities to tide over these critical times. Let us respond to the needs of our drought-stricken Filipino siblings in prayer and in action, by seeking together responsibility, accountability and tangible actions from our duty-bearers.
We in the NCCP believe that, “we are interdependent with God’s Creation, reliant on the health of the whole world. Thus, acknowledge that there would be no Shalom in a damaged world” (NCCP 26th General Assembly Resolution on Climate Change, ‘Committed to God’s Sangnilikha’). This Earth Day, we reaffirm our commitment and prophetic ministry to serve and care for what God has entrusted us (Genesis 1:25). And as we lift up God’s Earth, we also lift up the cries of the poor for a life with dignity and fullness (John 10:10).
Signed:
22 April 2024
Bishop Melzar D. Labuntog
Chairperson
The Most Rev. Brent Harry W. Alawas
Vice-Chairperson
Ms. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses
Vice-Chairperson
Pastor Jon Dave A. Angeles
Vice Chairperson
Rev. Leonardo R. Ramos
Treasurer
Ms. Minnie Anne M. Calub
General Secretary
[1] DSWD DROMIC Report #25 on the Effects of El Niño, 16 April 2024, https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/dswd-dromic-report-25-effects-el-nino-16-april-2024-6pm
