President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today reactivated the El Niño Task Force to coordinate the country’s response to the unusually dry weather in the first half of the year.

The President issued the marching order during the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Cabinet meeting this morning in Malacanang, said Office of the Press Secretary Officer-in-Charge Secretary Conrado Limcaoco, Jr. in a press briefing.

Formed in 2001, the task force will still be chaired by the Department of Agriculture (DA)

Limcaoco said a P1.7 billion fund, drawn from various government agencies, will be used for cloud seeding construction of shallow wells and distribution of organic fertilizers to rice, corn and value crops farmers. It will also fund the purchase and installation of fish cages for fishpond owners.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will support the initiative by implementing water management measures.

DA Undersecretary Bernie Fontanilla said agriculture and fisheries are expected to lose between P10 billion and P20 billion, depending on the severity of the dry spell.

Despite predictions of moderate drought from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA), Fontanilla said his department is packaging several livelihood programs for affected farmers and fishermen.

On the other hand, mango growers stand to benefit from a dryer summer. To help growers produce a better harvest, the DA promises to distribute mango flower inducers.