State of El Nino calamity? Palace not yet mulling declaration
Locals use sun protection to cool off from the heat as they walk past a public school in Quezon City on October 15, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News MANILA — Malacanang said Tuesday it was not yet considering a possible state of El Nino calamity, which 20 senators urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to declare.
A declaration of a state of calamity will mandate the programming of funds to better respond to the needs due to the weather phenomenon.
“Sa ngayon ay wala pang ganoong iniisip na pagdedeklara dahil natutugunan sa ngayon ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” Castro said.
Interventions in place include a mobile solar-powered irrigation system, cash aid for farmers, and efforts for cloud seeding.
“Maraming interventions na isinasagawa ngayon. So, again titingnan ang lahat ng posisyon na ito kung kinakailangan magdeklara ng state of calamity,” she said.
An exceptionally strong El Nino is driving weather disruptions around the globe, stoking food security fears and increasing the chances that 2026 will be the second-hottest year on record, experts say.
In November, the Philippines expects “below normal to way below normal rainfall,” state weather service PAGASA said. — With a report from Agence France-Presse
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