A total of 106 cities and municipalities across the Philippines are now under a state of calamity because of El Niño, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. The dry spell has affected 388,375 people, or 104,149 families, according to the agency’s report as of Monday.
Cagayan accounts for most of the declarations with 66 areas, followed by the Caraga region with 23, Bicol with 12, Calabarzon with four, and Soccsksargen with one. Cagayan also reported the most affected residents at 47,587, ahead of Caraga at 45,507 and Bicol at 11,055, while Calabarzon reported 191. The NDRRMC said the government has so far provided P39,058,681.06 in assistance to 24,618 of the 35,893 families identified as needing aid, leaving more than 11,000 families still waiting for help.
Farm losses are also mounting. The Department of Agriculture reported on Sept. 26 that El Niño had affected 223,214 farmers in 14 regions and caused P6.87 billion in agricultural damage. The department said 249,028 hectares of agricultural land and production had been hit. In Mimaropa, the department has told farmers to conserve water as the dry conditions set in. Local governments are adjusting too. Cebu is investing in monggo (mung beans) and kamote (sweet potatoes) ahead of the dry months, while in Metro Manila, Manila Water says it has cleaned more than 94,000 septic tanks amid El Niño.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has said El Niño could strengthen into a “very strong” event between September and December and last until the first half of 2027. The weather bureau expects the phenomenon to bring hotter temperatures and a significant drop in rainfall. The Department of Science and Technology has separately warned that El Niño could bring drought to all provinces by March 2027.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Harold Cabreros said on Monday that the agency is monitoring how the National Action Plan on El Niño is being carried out. With the rainy season over and hot, dry months beginning, he said authorities are watching for cascading effects, including a possible rise in forest fires, as well as the toll of the dry conditions on forests and agriculture. Cabreros urged the public to cooperate with government agencies in conserving water and energy.
