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EL NIÑO PREPARATIONS NEED TO REACH HOUSEHOLDS AND FARMS
Malacañang said on October 1 that government agencies are preparing assistance for farmers and fisherfolk and coordinating measures for water supply, irrigation, and food production. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the lead agency for the El Niño task force was still under discussion.
Castro identified ₱6.2 billion for agriculture assistance. Separately, the 2026 budget contains a ₱39.82-billion national disaster fund that can support responses to climate-related events. Adding those amounts together should not suggest that the entire sum is a new fund devoted only to El Niño, or that it has already reached beneficiaries.
PAGASA says a strong El Niño is already active and is expected to intensify into a very strong event between September and December 2026, with conditions persisting into the first half of 2027. This raises the risk of below-normal rainfall and drought in affected areas.
For families, the practical questions are whether water service remains dependable and whether farms have enough water to keep producing food. Announced funding and preparations need to lead to working irrigation, clear water advisories, and assistance that reaches the people who qualify. A budget announcement alone cannot show that those services have been delivered.
WHAT TO WATCH
Watch PAGASA's area-specific outlooks, water-provider advisories, and the DA's assistance schedules. These will show where the risks are growing and when affected farmers can actually receive help.