State Dining Room, Malacañan Palace
March 26, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presided over a sectoral meeting regarding updates on the government’s response to El Niño and the outlook on La Niña with several Cabinet members at the State Dining Room in Malacañan Palace.

According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Niño in the tropical Pacific continues to weaken but its impacts of hotter and drier conditions continue. This will likely persist until March-April-May 2024 season with a 65% chance of transition to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-neutral in April-July 2024 season. ENSO is a recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

With this report from the DOST-PAGASA, President Marcos Jr. ordered the activation of the El Niño Southern Oscillation Online Platform to help the Filipino people monitor the climate pattern and contribute to the mitigation of impacts of El Niño. Featuring interactive maps, forecasts and information materials on the actual El Niño events, the public is better informed on the different sectors affected by the phenomenon such as food, water, health, public safety and energy, thereby enabling them to better prepare for El Niño and contribute to the preparedness of their respective communities.

Despite the El Niño phenomenon, the Philippines recorded an increase in palay and corn production for the first quarter of 2024 due to government interventions in irrigation and water management. One such intervention implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is the Alternate Wetting and Drying Farming Strategy that optimizes the use of water in irrigation.

Another intervention is the rehabilitation of Magat Dam to intensify energy efficiency and conservation in Region II.

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