Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday emphasized the urgent need for data-driven planning and swift execution of programs as another El Niño episode is anticipated to peak in November. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. highlighted this necessity following the agency's improved results in internal assessments and evaluations by the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the first half of 2026. According to Philippines News Agency, Laurel urged DA personnel to maintain this momentum as the government prepares for impending weather and food security challenges. He stated, "Preparedness prevents a challenge from becoming a crisis, and a crisis from deteriorating into a catastrophe. That must be our guiding principle in the months ahead." Tiu Laurel noted that the government currently has more lead time compared to the previous El Niño episode, encouraging the use of this window to ensure that mitigation measures are in place. He also mentione d that external conditions have improved, with reduced fuel and fertilizer prices. By August, domestic retail prices are expected to return to near pre-US-Iran-war levels of PHP1,600 to PHP2,000 per bag, according to the DA. Tiu Laurel emphasized that lower input costs will motivate farmers to maximize planting before the dry spell intensifies. He also instructed the Department to expedite irrigation, water impounding, and other climate adaptation projects, including small farm reservoirs that can support fisheries and provide farmers with additional food and income. In addition to immediate climate preparations, Tiu Laurel proposed a broader shift toward a food systems approach, where production, storage, logistics, weather information, and market demand are managed as an integrated network supported by real-time data. Modernized facilities like additional cold storage, blast freezers, and logistics facilities are also planned to preserve local harvests, meet domestic demands, and reduce import dependence. The DA chief further directed regional offices to identify each province's strongest agricultural and fisheries commodities, quantify production capacity, and measure post-harvest losses to guide investments in storage, processing, and cold chain infrastructure.