The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been placed under a state of calamity due to extreme heat caused by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the effects of the global oil crisis.
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua said the declaration aims to address worsening socioeconomic disruptions caused by rising fuel prices and prolonged dry conditions linked to El Niño.
“El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral conditions prevailing over the Tropical Pacific have triggered an El Niño Alert since April 22, 2026, with climate models projecting the phenomenon to continue until early 2027,” the proclamation read.
Abunawas Maslamama, minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), said ENSO has already affected around 800 rice and corn farmers in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte.
Data from MAFAR showed that about 851 hectares of farmland across 36 municipalities and 167 barangays were damaged.
The affected areas included 537 hectares of rice fields and 314 hectares of corn fields, MAFAR said.
The dry spell has also resulted in losses amounting to around 1,500 metric tons of rice and corn in BARMM.
Aside from the impact of extreme heat on agriculture, the BARMM government also noted the effects of the oil crisis.
Fuel prices in the region increased by as much as P11.88 per liter for diesel and P6.47 per liter for gasoline in March 2026, citing data from the Department of Energy.
Macacua’s declaration stated that the combined effects of El Niño and rising fuel prices have disrupted food security, transportation, livelihoods, and the welfare of the Bangsamoro people.
“The Bangsamoro Government and local government units may immediately access calamity and emergency funds for rescue, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts, including the delivery of essential services to affected communities,” Macacua said.
“All concerned ministries, offices, and agencies of the Bangsamoro Government are hereby directed to continuously undertake urgent and critical disaster response to save lives, reduce adverse impacts, ensure public safety, and meet the basic subsistence needs of the Bangsamoro people,” he added. — Photo from BARMM PIO
