VP Sara on Super El Niño preps: ‘Hindi sapat na balde lang’

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has stressed the need for comprehensive preparations for the potential impacts of “super” El Niño, saying the challenge requires more than collecting rainwater in pails and buckets, as previously suggested by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Speaking at the Araw ng Baungon celebration in Bukidnon on Wednesday, Duterte said the possible drought could affect farmers, fishermen, agricultural production, and the country’s power supply.

“Ang mga eksperto karon, gitawag na ni nila og Super El Niño, buot pasabot, init gyud kaayo ni, nga posibleng mauga ang atoang mga yuta ug atoang mga sapa (Ang mga eksperto ngayon, tinawag na nila ito na Super El Niño, ibig sabihin, napakainit nito, na posibleng matuyo ang mga lupa at mga ilog),” she said.

“Mao nang dili na siya madala og balde lang, dako siya nga problema. Kay ngano man? Ug mauga ang yuta, magkaproblema ang agrikultura kay madaot man atoang ani (Kaya hindi sapat na balde lang. Isa itong malaking problema. Bakit? Kapag natuyo ang lupa, magkakaroon ng problema sa agrikultura dahil masisira ang ating mga pananim,” she added.

Malacañang earlier defended Marcos’ suggestion for Filipinos to collect rainwater in pails and buckets in anticipation of Super El Niño.

The proposal drew criticism from social media users who said they expected a more comprehensive government response.

Duterte also warned that a potential drought could threaten the country’s food supply if farmers were unable to prepare for prolonged dry conditions.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro earlier said that some critics are “obstructionists” who have nothing positive to say about Marcos Jr. and his policies.

“Sa mga obstructionists po itong sasabihin ko: Kailangan po talaga natin ng balde – baldeng utak para maintindihan ninyo po kung ano ang plano ng pangulo,” she said.

(To the obstructionists, I say: We do need pails — pails of brains so you can understand what the president’s plans are.)

Duterte said farmers must prepare planting materials that can withstand drought, as well as make contingency plans for possible disruptions to irrigation water supplies.

“Ug di makaandam atong mga mag-uuma sa ilahang planting materials, na mu-survive og uga or drought, ug sa ilahang pagpangandam kung wala nay tubig ang irigasyon. Ug dili sila makaandam og ingon ana, madaot ang atoang food supply. (Kung hindi makapaghanda ang ating mga magsasaka ng mga pananim na kayang mabuhay sa tuyong kondisyon o tagtuyot, pati na rin ang posibilidad na mawalan ng tubig ang irigasyon, masisira ang food supply natin),” she said.

Duterte said ordinary Filipinos would ultimately bear the burden of rising food prices, underscoring the need for the government and farmers to prepare for the potential effects of Super El Niño.