MANILA, Philippines — The government has allocated billions of pesos in funds to mitigate the looming effects of the super El Niño, noting that government spending will continue to spur economic growth.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Office Claire Castro detailed that for 2026, P6.2 billion is earmarked for release to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to support farmers and fisherfolk affected by climate conditions and fuel pressures.
Additionally, P39.83 billion is allocated under the 2026 National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) for climate-related events.
Meanwhile, for the proposed 2027 budget, a total of P45.67 billion was allocated for the NDRRMF, alongside P9.885 billion for agency Quick Response Funds, P11.18 billion for National Food Authority rice buffer stocking, P4.5 billion for crop insurance, and P46.356 billion for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
At the same time, Malacañang warned consumers against panic-buying and hoarding drinking water.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the government was taking proactive steps to address the projected dry spells, noting that artificial panicking through excessive stockpiling could lead to unjustified price hikes.
"What our fellow citizens need to do is prepare—to be ready... There is no need to panic; all that is required is proper preparation," Castro said in Filipino, noting that El Niño is not a new phenomenon in the country.
