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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Ang init!': Philippines should prep early for El Niño, says solon

'Ang init!': Philippines should prep early for El Niño, says solon

Published Apr 29, 2026 09:19 am

At A Glance

  • Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos urges the government to prepare early for El Niño, warning that it will worsen food security and public health challenges.
  • He stresses the need to fund farm inputs, post-harvest facilities, and strengthen crop insurance so small farmers can claim benefits quickly during climate-related calamities.
  • Bernos advances his Weather Ready Farmers bill (HB 6519) and commits to advocating for a larger agriculture budget to help the sector withstand El Niño, which PAGASA forecasts may persist into early 2027.
(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)


Do you feel the heat? Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos does, that's why he's prodding the government to brace for the onset of El Niño or the dry season, so as not to add to Filipinos' current economic woes.
"Ngayon pa lang, kailangang tutukan na natin ang strategy natin sa pagtugon sa El Niño para maiwasan ang lalong pagkakabaon ng bansa (Even now, we must already focus on our strategy for responding to El Niño to prevent the country from sinking deeper)," Bernos said in a statement on Tuesday, April 28.
"El Niño will negatively impact food security and public health, and it is up to us in government to exhaust all efforts to minimize its effects on our people," he noted.
The State weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has announced that there is a 79 percent probability of El Niño developing during the June-July-August 2026 season, with forecasts suggesting the climate phenomenon could persist until early 2027.
Bernos emphasized the need for adequate financial support to boost productivity and re-energize the country’s agriculture sector.
“The key to surviving El Niño is also the key to improving our nation’s agriculture. Hindi naman sikreto ito—kailangan natin pondohan ang farm inputs at post-harvest facilities to make agriculture more viable for our producers (This is no secret—we need to fund farm inputs and post-harvest facilities to make agriculture more viable for our producers),” the solon said.
He is also pushing for improvements to the country’s crop insurance system in a bid to ensure that small farmers are able to immediately claim their benefits during climate-related calamities.
PAGASA has recently reported very hot conditions across the Philippines, with average daytime temperatures around 33–34 °C and “danger-level” heat indices reaching up to 45 °C in some areas.
Metro Manila has been recording highs of about 35 °C.
Bernos’ own pending House Bill (HB) No. 6519 or the Weather Ready Farmers bill seeks establish a free weather index-based crop insurance (FIBCI) with an automatic payout system to help farmers cope with the effects of climate change.
The lawmaker also vowed to advocate for a bigger budget for the agriculture sector next year to help the sector weather the effects of El Niño.

Related Tags

EL NINO PAGASA JB Bernos
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