State Dining Room, Malacañan Palace
December 12, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. convened with key officials from concerned agencies to discuss comprehensive updates on the Administration’s El Niño National Action Plan (NAP) during a sectoral meeting at the State Dining Room in Malacañan Palace.

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) highlighted the escalating strength of the El Niño phenomenon in the tropical Pacific, which is expected to reach its peak in the coming months, with sea surface temperature anomalies exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to a consensus among global climate models, there is a likelihood that El Niño will persist until the second quarter of 2024. It further noted that 11 provinces are expected to face drought conditions by January 2024.

In response, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. presented the National Action Plan (NAP) for El Niño, a comprehensive strategy covering water security, food security, energy security, health security and public safety. It aims to enhance community resilience and address the anticipated impacts of the 2023-2024 El Niño.

The DND Secretary also introduced the National El Niño Online Platform (NOP), a database designed to facilitate the development of well-informed, data-driven plans and programs to combat the effects of El Niño.

President Marcos Jr. underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding citizens in the face of climate-related challenges, emphasizing the crucial need for collaboration among government agencies, local communities and international partners to effectively implement the NAP and address the looming El Niño crisis.

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