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This file photo shows farmer with his carabao plowing a rain-soaked rice field in Brgy, Bagong Silangan, Quezon City on Aug. 8, 2026, as recent rains softened the soil after months of dry conditions brought by El Niño. (Photo by Edd Castro)
The government is preparing for potentially harsher El Niño effects as climate change alters weather patterns, with authorities focusing on protecting food production, managing water supplies, and helping farmers adapt to increasingly unpredictable conditions, the Palace said Tuesday.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government cannot rely solely on past El Niño patterns because rising temperatures and shifting rainfall could amplify the phenomenon’s effects.
“Dahil sa climate change, baka mas matindi ang maramdaman at magiging epekto ng El Niño (Because of climate change, the effects of El Niño may be felt more severely),” Castro said.
The Department of Agriculture has activated its El Niño Task Force to coordinate preparations and protect farmers and agricultural production from drought and other extreme weather conditions, Castro said.
She said weather conditions have become increasingly erratic, with some areas experiencing heavy rains while parts of the Visayas and Mindanao face hotter and drier conditions.
This uneven pattern is prompting the government to adjust agricultural and water-management strategies, she said.
The National Irrigation Administration is also preparing for possible disruptions in water availability and irrigation. At the same time, farmers are being given guidance on which crops to plant and when to plant and harvest them to minimize losses from extreme weather.
Castro said farmers are also being encouraged to consider crops that can withstand or be cultivated during rainy periods, as weather patterns become less predictable.
The government’s response comes as the World Meteorological Organization has warned that an exceptional El Niño requires exceptional preparation and response.
Castro said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has made climate change a priority, pointing to increasingly intense heat and rainfall compared with conditions a decade ago.
“Lahat po ng gagawin ngayon … ay according na rin po sa science (Everything we do now should also be based on science),” she said.
She said the government is coordinating with the Climate Change Commission to ensure that policies and preparedness measures are based on scientific assessments and account for the possibility of more severe climate conditions in the future.
The broader goal, Castro said, is to strengthen the country’s ability to cope with climate extremes while reducing the burden on future generations. — Charles Dantes
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Credit belongs to: www.manilastandard.net
