Philippines Department of Agriculture prepares for super El Niño

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is intensifying preparations for an anticipated ‘super-strong’ El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to persist until the first half of 2027. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the agency is applying lessons learned from previous droughts to protect farm production and secure food supplies.

To mitigate the impact, the DA is stocking up on food and agricultural inputs, expanding storage capacity, and deploying targeted interventions. The National Food Authority (NFA) has rented 165 additional facilities to boost storage, while new cold storage facilities are being opened for perishable goods like meat and vegetables to minimize spoilage.

The national government has allocated an additional P6.2 billion for fuel subsidies and assistance to support farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural truckers facing higher costs due to Middle East conflicts and El Niño. Officials warned that the weather phenomenon could reduce projected palay output by approximately 700,000 metric tons during the main harvest in the second half of the year.