President Marcos orders water, food, health preparations as Super El Niño nears

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday outlined government preparations for Super El Niño, including securing hospital supplies, protecting food and water supplies, assisting farmers and ensuring students continue learning amid extreme heat.

Speaking to reporters in Singapore, Marcos said the El Niño Task Force had begun coordinating measures, with agencies set to submit detailed action plans.

“We met with everyone involved. Inuna ko ‘yung hospital,” Marcos said, citing the need to ensure hospitals have electricity, fuel for generators and medical supplies for illnesses associated with prolonged dry conditions.

On agriculture, he said the current rice harvest was expected to remain unaffected, but the government was preparing for the next cropping season.

Marco said authorities were also planning cloud-seeding operations and urging households to collect and reuse water.

“Tuturuan namin kayo . . . We’ll give you the filter. We’ll teach you how to do everything para hindi kayo magkasakit at maayos ang pag-treat ng tubig, pag-filter ng tubig,” he said, referring to public guidance on treating and filtering collected water.

The government is also looking at livelihood assistance and training for affected farmers through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Marcos said officials were preparing alternative learning arrangements in case extreme heat disrupts classes, while seeking to preserve face-to-face instruction where possible.

“We'retrying to make sure that the alternative modes of teaching are available. But, find ways, as much as possible, to do face-to-face because . . . iba talaga ‘yung face-to-face kaysa sa remote,” he said.

The Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, and Presidential Communications Office are among the agencies tasked to submit detailed plans.