SEN. Loren Legarda urged the government to step up preparations for a potentially more severe El Niño.
This comes as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that the current strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific could intensify into a very strong El Niño between September and December and persist through the first half of 2027.
The weather bureau said the phenomenon increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall and dry spells or drought in some parts of the country.
“El Niño is not a sudden disaster; we can see it coming. We cannot simply ‘think positive’ and wait until the farms have dried up, the water supply has been affected, and families have lost their income before taking action. Let us prepare while there is still time,” Legarda said.
She called on the government to immediately identify areas most vulnerable to drought and water stress and match them with specific interventions, including water conservation and storage, irrigation support, drought-resilient crops and seeds, assistance for affected farmers and fisherfolk, and measures to prevent disruptions in food supplies.
Legarda urged Task Force El Niño, reactivated under Executive Order (EO) 53, to update the Strategic El Niño National Action Plan based on current conditions and clearly define the responsibilities of agencies for water, food and energy security, health and public safety.
Under EO 53, the task force is mandated to revise and update the national action plan and monitor short- and long-term measures in five critical areas — water security, food security, energy security, health and safety.
Legarda said the government already has mechanisms that can finance preventive and adaptive measures. She was principal author and sponsor of the Climate Change Act of 2009 and principal sponsor of the law establishing the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), which provides at least 1 billion pesos annually for climate adaptation projects of local governments and community organizations.
The PSF can support projects involving water-resource management, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure, early warning systems and contingency planning for drought-prone areas.
Legarda cited the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, which she championed, as part of the country’s shift toward prevention, preparedness, risk reduction and resilience.
She said assistance to families who eventually lose income or livelihoods remains necessary but should not become the government’s main response to a climate event that can be forecast.
Legarda called for an immediate, data-driven El Niño financing plan identifying vulnerable areas, priority interventions, available 2026 funds and projected funding gaps through the first half of 2027.
The assessment, she said, should help guide the Senate Committee on Finance in determining possible adjustments or additional appropriations under the proposed 2027 national budget.
“We cannot prevent El Niño, but we can minimize its damage. True preparation takes place before families lose their water supply, crops, and livelihoods. Let us act while there is still time,” Legarda said.
