Malacañang on Monday cautioned the public against creating “artificial panic” over the looming El Niño, even as it called for early and sustained preparations to cushion its impact.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned agencies to accelerate their preparations for the dry conditions expected from October through March 2027.
The President also directed agencies to step up public information efforts so Filipinos can properly prepare and avoid unnecessary alarm being fueled by some content creators.
“Iniutos din ng Pangulo na paigitingin ang pagbibigay ng impormasyon sa taumbayan upang maging handa ang lahat at maiwasang lumikha ng artificial panic na siyang ginagamit ngayon ng ibang content creator (The President also ordered the intensification of public information dissemination to ensure everyone is prepared and to prevent the artificial panic currently being stoked by some content creators),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.
“Ang bilin ng Pangulo, huwag na nating hintayin pa at tayo ay maghanda na, dahil sa tamang paghahanda, maiibsan an epekto ng El Niño sa bansa (The President’s directive is not to wait any longer but to prepare immediately, as proper preparation can mitigate the impact of El Niño on the country),” she added.
Castro said Marcos convened officials from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Office of Civil Defense and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to tackle preparations for the phenomenon.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum said the country is currently experiencing a strong El Niño, with the phenomenon expected to intensify and its overall effects to continue into the first half of 2027.
Solidum said the impact is expected to become more pronounced in the coming months, with more areas potentially experiencing below-normal rainfall.
By the end of March, he said, all provinces could be experiencing drought conditions based on the current outlook.
As of September, 17 provinces were already under drought conditions, Solidum said.
He stressed, however, that the severity of the impact will also depend on how quickly available water supplies are consumed.
“The long-term forecast ay mas kakaunti ang tubig na ibabagsak (indicates that less rainfall is expected),” Solidum said.
He added that government agencies and the public must work together to conserve water in dams and groundwater sources.
“Importante po na mapakinggan natin ang mga ginagawa ng iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno, and more importantly ano naman iyong role ng bawat isa sa atin upang mas mapatagal pa natin iyong suplay ng tubig (It is important for us to hear about the initiatives of various government agencies and, more importantly, to understand the role each of us plays in extending our water supply),” he said.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the government will also reiterate measures requiring water conservation, including the use of recycled water in golf courses and avoiding unnecessary water consumption in activities such as car washing, driveway cleaning and filling swimming pools.
PAGASA earlier warned that the ongoing El Niño could intensify into a very strong event between September and December 2026 and persist through the first half of 2027. (PNA)
