Key facts
- The Philippines is preparing for a severe El Niño event, with its peak expected by March 2027.
- Economists warn of potential price pressures due to drought concerns.
- The government has identified food security as a priority in the 2027 national budget, allocating PHP261.7 billion for ongoing agricultural programs.
- Additional funding of over P20 billion is being considered for agricultural sector enhancements.
- The National Expenditures Program targets an additional 11,153 hectares of new irrigation service areas, but a nationwide deficit of millions of hectares remains.
- The government is focusing on absorbing shocks to the system rather than making it drought-proof.
Residents in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan province, have long experienced disruptions to tap water supply and poor water quality, highlighting the nation's vulnerability as it braces for a strengthening El Niño. The Philippine government is preparing for a worst-case scenario due to drought concerns, with the peak of the event expected by March 2027.
Economists warn of potential price pressures stemming from the drought. While the government has identified food security as a priority in the 2027 national budget, allocating PHP261.7 billion for ongoing agricultural programs and considering over P20 billion in additional funding for enhancements, these measures primarily focus on absorbing shocks rather than drought-proofing the system. The National Expenditures Program aims to add 11,153 hectares of irrigation service areas, but this falls significantly short of the millions of hectares needed nationwide.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has convened inter-agency officials to bolster drought interventions targeting farms, dams, and hospitals. Agencies like the Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Labor and Employment are overseeing agricultural efforts, while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Irrigation Administration, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, and Local Water Utilities Administration are managing water resources and infrastructure. Energy and fuel supplies are also under monitoring.
The DENR has deployed technological networks, including Automated Weather Stations and GIS-based risk modeling, to provide field alerts for rising temperatures and environmental hazards. The DSWD is preparing instructional videos on water conservation techniques, and the Presidential Communications Office is coordinating public information dissemination. Despite these efforts, a decade ago, the nation was hit hard by El Niño despite being forewarned, indicating that preparedness does not always translate to resilience.