Philippines braces for nationwide drought by March 2027 as strong El Niño intensifies
All Philippine provinces are expected to face drought conditions by end-March 2027 due to a strong El Niño, officials announced on Monday. The government outlined a multi-agency response focusing on water conservation, food stockpiles, and partial funding, with over 388,000 people already affected a
The Philippine government on Monday warned that all provinces will experience drought by the end of March 2027 amid a strong El Niño, urging immediate water conservation. At a Palace press briefing, officials detailed a multi-agency response that relies on voluntary water saving, national food reserves, and only partly released funding.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the El Niño could become “very strong” between now and December 2026 and persist through the first half of 2027. Maximum daily temperatures are forecast to reach 38.7°C by March, with heat indices projected between 45°C and 52°C.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 106 cities and municipalities across five provinces — Isabela, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Agusan del Sur — have already been placed under a state of calamity due to severe drought. Over 388,000 people have been affected, with agricultural damage reaching P6.87 billion across more than 249,000 hectares of farmland.
To protect major reservoirs such as Angat Dam, which supplies 90% of Metro Manila’s potable water, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is reissuing directives requiring commercial entities, including golf courses, to use recycled greywater. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna said: “It cannot be business as usual. Every individual, every citizen must do their part by conserving water… unnecessary uses at this time must be minimised.” The DENR is coordinating with local governments to monitor nonessential uses such as car washing, hosing driveways and filling swimming pools, and has directed water concessionaires to expedite repairs on nonrevenue pipe leakages.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the Department of Agriculture has requested a P45-billion supplemental budget, of which P6.2 billion has been released. The department is seeking an additional P10 billion for solar irrigation pumps, solar aerators and bio-fertilisers, and another P10 billion for 2027 under presidential assistance funds for farmers and fisherfolk. Mr. Laurel said national food buffer stocks stand at 75 days for rice, 125 days for chicken, 170 days for pork and 90 days for corn, adding: “We are maintaining a healthy number of days of food sufficiency. If we are able to maintain this, there’s no reason to panic actually.”
As a contingency, authorities have pre-positioned stationary and mobile water tankers alongside heavy-duty water bladders donated by the Netherlands. The Local Water Utilities Administration and National Water Resources Board are developing new deep-well sources and managing priority sector allocations. Mr. Laurel noted that commercial port operations remain unhindered to maintain supply volumes and retail price stability, and said there is currently no justification to restrict rice importation as farmgate palay prices remain steady between P16.50 and P20 per kilogram.
