Don’t dismiss El Niño impact, Speaker Dy tells execs

MANILA, Philippines — The government must prepare for the possible impact of an El Niño phenomenon instead of dismissing it, as several sectors like agriculture and food may be at high risk, House of Representatives Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said on Friday.

Dy in a statement, said that a proactive El Niño response is needed to protect farmers and ensure food security, as several local and international meteorologists say that there is an 80 percent chance that an El Niño will form by August 2026.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration characterizes El Niño as an unusual rise in average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, resulting in warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures. As an effect, below-normal rainfall is expected, which can cause dry spells and droughts in several areas.

“Let us not dismiss discussions on El Niño. Let us not wait for farmers and fisherfolk to feel its effect before we start moving. We need to be proactive,” Dy said.

“We need to ensure as early as now that the programs, assistance, and mechanisms from the government needed to protect the livelihood of our people and our food supply are already prepared,” he added.

READ: 80% chance of El Niño developing June to August – UN

According to the speaker, immediate preparations and a quick response will be crucial to ensuring that there is food for every Filipino family.

This goal, Dy said, is why the House committee on agriculture and food held a hearing last Wednesday to hear plans from different government agencies whose functions will be critical to preparing for El Niño.

“The quick and proper response of the government is needed for us to ensure that there is food for every Filipino family, and that we can maintain the livelihood of those in rural areas, and we can strengthen the capacity of communities to recover from hardships brought by climate-related challenges,” he added.

During the hearing of the committee headed by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, the lawmaker said that the hearing was held because of the issue’s urgency, and upon Dy’s instructions.

Enverga noted that the Task Force El Niño, reactivated through Executive Order No. 53 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was tasked to develop a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan and coordinate interventions aimed at increasing the resilience of communities against the effects of El Niño.

“As we all know, the El Niño event poses a serious threat to our agriculture and fisheries sector. The looming dry spell can severely impact rice, corn, high value crops, and fish production threatening not only farmers and fisherfolk’s livelihoods but also our national food security,” Enverga said.

“We can only say that our preparations are good and effective if we can protect our Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, and buyers from the effect of the El Niño.  This is the goal of this hearing and this is our duty to everyone,” Dy added.

Several government agencies have already warned about the weather phenomenon’s drastic effects.  Last May 28, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that a severe El Niño may cut the country’s rice output by as much as 700,000 metric tons — which will put the country’s food security and farmland incomes at high risk.

The DA made the pronouncement as it ordered the reconvening of its El Niño task force to prepare for the dry spell.

READ: El Niño may cut PH rice output by 700,000 metric tons, says DA

“It is imperative that we put in place interventions that mitigate the impact of El Niño on agriculture, the livelihoods of farmers, fisherfolk, and others in the value chain, as well as its adverse effects on food supply, prices, and consumers,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

But aside from a possible drought, an El Niño cycle can also damage crops and agricultural products through stronger storms, as warmer ocean SSTs contribute to the formation of tropical cyclones.

Last May 26, Pagasa said that climate models indicate the developing El Niño may strengthen into a strong event by September to November, with a growing possibility of reaching “very strong” status by late 2026.

READ: Pagasa: ‘Habagat’ season starting soon; very strong’ El Niño looms

While El Niño is commonly associated with dry conditions, Pagasa reminded the public that it may initially enhance the southwest monsoon, or habagat, from June to September — potentially causing heavy rainfall events over the western side of Luzon and the Visayas. /das