THE Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a United Nations agency, said its disaster-relief project has assisted more than 4,000 farmers and fisherfolk.
In a statement on Tuesday, the FAO said its Project SAVE, or Strengthening Anticipatory Action for Vulnerable Farmers and Fisherfolk before Emergencies, has aided at least 150 fisherfolk in Catanduanes whose boats were damaged by Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong) by supplying boat-repair kits, and enrolled over 4,000 farmers and fisherfolk in a cash-for-work and livelihood support scheme.
Farming and fishing communities continue to recover from recent climate-related disasters while facing new risks linked to higher energy costs, the FAO said.
According to the FAO, rising fuel prices are increasing the cost of irrigation and transport, while higher fertilizer prices are putting additional strain on farm production.
“Today’s energy crisis is not a standalone shock. It is colliding with climate stress and exposing once again the structural weaknesses of agri-food systems that previous crises had already revealed,” FAO Philippines Representative Lionel Dabbadie said in the statement.
The FAO said these pressures are unfolding alongside worsening climate conditions. Forecasts from the government weather service indicate that warm and dry conditions may persist through April, with a possible transition to El Niño conditions by midyear.
The FAO said higher energy costs are also expected to raise the cost of climate adaptation measures such as irrigation and water hauling, potentially delaying planting and reducing productivity.
It warned that households may adopt short-term coping strategies with long-term consequences, including shifting to wood fuel as a cheaper energy source or turning to shorter fishing trips, which could increase pressure on near-shore resources.
The FAO said its 2026 Global Emergency and Resilience Appeal aims to raise $2.5 billion to strengthen agriculture in emergencies and disasters. Of this amount, FAO is seeking approximately $11.8 million for the Philippines. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel
