El Niño Hits Visayas Farms, Plus Fuel Updates: Farm News for October 11, 2026
For the week of October 7 to 11, 2026, El Niño continues to dry out fields across the Visayas, threatening thousands of hectares of crops. As the government releases aid and plans record imports to secure supply, farmers are watching how these moves will affect the palay price today.
Looking for today's price? See palay price today and fertilizer price in the Philippines.
7 stories from Dailyguardian, Inquirer, Facebook, Daily Tribune and Chinimandi. Each one comes with what it means for your farm and a link to the full report.
The dry spell is forcing many of you to rethink your water use and harvest schedules. While diesel prices offer a small break for those running water pumps, the lack of rain means you need to act fast to save standing crops. This week is about managing what water you have, protecting your yield from heat stress, and stopping any rice insect before it spreads.
El Niño Damage and Government Aid
Dry Conditions Threaten Antique Farmland
Prolonged dry weather from El Niño is causing water stress across 96,000 hectares of crops in Antique. Farmers face possible yield losses if the dry conditions continue.
In fact, a dry field at the wrong growth stage means empty grains and a lighter harvest. If your palay is flowering, prioritize your irrigation schedule to keep the soil moist. As a result, you might need to run your pumps more often to save the crop.
Kapag natuyo ang bukid sa maling stage, magiging ipa ang butil at gagaan ang harvest mo. Kung naglilihi o namumulaklak ang palay mo, unahin ang schedule ng patubig para manatiling basa ang lupa. Baka kailangan mo ring magpatakbo ng bomba nang mas madalas para maisalba ang pananim.
Dailyguardian, October 9
Read the full report at Dailyguardian
Bohol Reports Heavy Crop Losses
Farms in Bohol have lost an estimated 173.69 million pesos worth of crops due to the ongoing El Niño drought. The lack of rain has severely cut into the expected harvest for the province.
For example, seeing neighbors lose their crops is a hard warning for your own fields. Check your soil moisture daily and clear your irrigation canals of weeds so water flows fast. Then, if you are planting next month, choose an early maturing seed to beat the worst of the heat.
Mabigat na babala para sa sarili mong bukid ang pagkalugi ng mga kapitbahay. Silipin araw-araw ang basâ ng lupa at alisin ang damo sa mga kanal para mabilis dumaloy ang patubig. Kung magtatanim ka sa susunod na buwan, pumili ng binhi na maagang mag-ani para maiwasan ang pinakamatinding init.
Inquirer, October 8
Read the full report at Inquirer
Government Releases Aid for Affected Farmers
The Office of Civil Defense reports that the government has distributed 10.96 billion pesos in assistance to farmers hit by El Niño. This includes interventions to help recover lost income and inputs.
Instead of waiting, you should check with your local agriculture office to see if your town is covered by this fund. They might offer free seeds, fertilizer, or cash assistance to help you replant. Also, keep your farm records and registry papers ready so you can claim what you need.
Imbes na maghintay, puntahan agad ang local agriculture office ninyo para malaman kung kasama ang bayan mo sa pondong ito. Baka may libreng binhi, fertilizer, o tulong pinansyal para makapagtanim ka ulit. Ihanda na rin ang iyong farm records at registry papers para makuha mo ang kailangan mo.
Facebook, October 8
Read the full report at Facebook
Rice Supply and the Palay Price Today
Rice and Meat Supply Stable Until Christmas
The Department of Agriculture assures the public that the country has enough rice and meat to last through the holiday season. Current stocks are sufficient to meet the high demand.
Besides, a stable national supply usually means traders will not rush to buy local harvests at a premium. You might see the palay price today stay flat instead of spiking. So, plan your selling time carefully and dry your grains well to get the best classification from buyers.
Kapag sapat ang supply sa bansa, karaniwang hindi magmamadali ang mga trader na bilhin nang mataas ang lokal nating ani. Baka mapansin mong hindi tataas ang presyo ng palay at manatiling pantay lang. Kaya planuhin nang maayos ang araw ng pagbenta at patuyuing mabuti ang palay para maganda ang grade sa mamimili.
Facebook, October 9
Read the full report at Facebook
Rice Imports to Hit New Record in 2026
The Philippines is expected to break its previous rice import record this year to build a buffer against El Niño production drops. The government is securing foreign supply to prevent shortages.
But more imported rice in the market competes directly with your local harvest. This volume can pull down the palay price today right when you bring your sacks to the trader. As a result, talk to your regular buyers early to lock in a fair rate before the imported shipments flood the local warehouses.
Direktang kakumpitensya ng lokal mong harvest ang mas maraming imported rice sa merkado. Pwede nitong hilahin pababa ang presyo ng palay kapag dinala mo na ang mga sako mo sa trader. Makipag-usap nang maaga sa regular mong suki para makasiguro ng maayos na presyo bago mapuno ng imported rice ang mga bodega.
Inquirer, October 8
Read the full report at Inquirer
Fuel Costs and Rice Insect Alerts
Diesel Prices Drop as Gasoline Rises
Diesel prices are rolling back by 1.80 to 2 pesos per liter next week, while gasoline will increase by up to 2.20 pesos. This mixed adjustment comes from shifts in Asian fuel supplies.
First, a drop in diesel prices is good news if you rely on a water pump to fight the drought. Buy your diesel in bulk now while the price is lower to keep your irrigation running. Next, if you use gasoline for smaller farm machines, try to limit your trips to save money.
Magandang balita ang bawas-presyo sa diesel kung gumagamit ka ng water pump laban sa tagtuyot. Bumili na agad ng maramihang diesel habang mababa pa ang presyo para tuloy-tuloy ang patubig mo. Kung gumagamit ka naman ng gasolina sa maliliit na makina sa bukid, bawasan muna ang mga biyahe para makatipid.
Daily Tribune, October 9
Read the full report at Daily Tribune
Scale Insects Attack Iloilo Sugarcane
A severe outbreak of the red striped soft scale insect is damaging sugarcane plantations across Iloilo. The infestation is spreading and causing noticeable crop damage.
Finally, dry weather often brings out pests that suck sap from stressed plants, much like a rice insect attacks dry palay. Walk your fields and check the undersides of leaves for any unusual spots or bugs. If you see an outbreak starting, ask your technician for the right spray before it spreads.
Kapag mainit ang panahon, lumalabas ang mga pesteng sumisipsip sa mga tanim, gaya ng peste sa tuyong palay. Libutin ang bukid mo at tingnan ang ilalim ng mga dahon kung may kakaibang mantsa o insekto. Kapag may nakitang pamumeste, kumonsulta agad sa technician para sa tamang pambomba bago pa ito kumalat.
Chinimandi, October 8
Read the full report at Chinimandi
What You Can Do This Week
- Clear your irrigation canals of weeds and debris so water reaches your crops faster during pump runs.
- Visit your municipal agriculture office to ask about the El Niño assistance funds and register your farm.
- Buy your diesel supply for water pumps this week to take advantage of the price rollback.
- Talk to your palay trader early to agree on a price before record imports enter the local market.
Keep your farm producing even when the weather turns dry.
- Check the weather forecast for each lot to plan your pump schedule.
- Record your harvest and track the prices you get from buyers.
- Ask Anee to identify pests from a photo before they spread.
Questions Farmers Are Asking
Will the country run out of rice because of El Niño?
How much aid has the government given for El Niño?
Are fuel prices going up or down next week?
Why is the Philippines importing more rice this year?
- Dailyguardian: El Niño threatens 96,000 hectares of Antique farmland
- Inquirer: Bohol farms reel from El Niño, suffer P173.7M in losses
- Facebook: Farmers plant rice in Bustos, Bulacan on Thursday. The Office of Civil Defense said the government has provided P10.96 billion in interventions and assistance t
- Facebook: The country has sufficient supply of rice and meat products until after the Yuletide season, according to the Department of Agriculture
- Inquirer: Philippine rice import volume poised to hit new record in 2026
- Daily Tribune: Gasoline bucks oil slump, eyes P2.20 hike
- Chinimandi: Philippines : Red striped scale insect infestation damages Iloilo sugarcane crop
