With the country bracing for a possible “Super El Niño,” the government is racing to expand water supplies, prepare backup power and protect food stocks, targeting an additional 440 million liters of water daily before the end of 2026.
Malacañang announced the measures on Wednesday, October 14, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to strengthen preparations for potential shortages of water, food and electricity.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the administration wanted its interventions to have a direct impact on communities that could bear the brunt of prolonged dry conditions.
Among the immediate measures, authorities have activated 61 decommissioned deep wells to augment Metro Manila’s water supply and are accelerating the completion of new water facilities.
The Kaysakat Water Treatment Plant at Upper Wawa Dam is expected to be completed in November 2026, adding 160 million liters of water per day to the supply.
The government is also preparing 135 stationary water tanks and 182 mobile water tankers for deployment to areas facing shortages. Cloud-seeding operations and dam-management measures are being readied to help augment available water resources.
“Ang bawat galaw ng gobyerno para sa taumbayan sa panahon ng El Niño ay titiyaking mararamdaman,” Castro said.
Food, power supplies on standby
Water security is only one part of the government’s preparations, with agencies also working to maintain food availability and cushion the impact of drought on farmers.
Castro reported that rice stocks were sufficient for 75 days, pork for 170 days and chicken for 125 days. Additional imports may be pursued if necessary.
Farmers affected by drought may receive cash assistance, emergency fund transfers, temporary employment and skills training through concerned government agencies.
To help prevent power shortages, the government has lined up 253 megawatts from battery energy storage systems and 218 megawatts from power barges as backup capacity. Projects expected to add another 1,500 megawatts to the electricity supply are also being fast-tracked.
The Department of Health, meanwhile, is preparing for heat-related illnesses and diseases, including dengue, while hospitals and other health facilities are expected to maintain adequate electricity, water, medicines and medical supplies.
The Department of Science and Technology will provide two-day heat-index forecasts, while the Department of Labor and Employment is expected to issue advisories to protect workers from extreme heat.
Castro urged the public and private sector to work together to minimize El Niño’s potential effects on livelihoods, health, food, water and energy.
Palace turns criticism on Duterte
As the administration laid out its preparations, Castro also took aim at Vice President Sara Duterte for questioning Marcos’ response to the anticipated El Niño, accusing her of undermining the President instead of offering solutions.
She cited Duterte’s earlier statement that she knew how to bring rice prices down to P20 per kilo but would not share her approach because she did not want to help the President.
Castro questioned whether the Vice President would contribute to the administration’s current efforts.
She also accused Duterte of seeking to damage Marcos’ image, insisting that the government’s ongoing interventions showed the President was taking action.
The political exchange comes as the administration prepares for possible disruptions to water, food and electricity supplies, with the effectiveness of its measures likely to be tested if prolonged dry conditions intensify.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.