The Department of Agriculture warned that a severe El Niño could reduce the Philippines’ rice production by as much as 700,000 metric tons, posing risks to food security and farmers’ incomes.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency has reconvened its El Niño task force and is implementing measures such as cloud seeding, irrigation support, adjusted planting schedules, and crop diversification.
He stressed that mitigating El Niño’s impact is a national priority to stabilize food supply, prices, and rural livelihoods.
The warning comes as the weather bureau projects a high chance of a moderate to strong El Niño developing in late 2026 into 2027.
The DA also cited past El Niño events that caused significant agricultural losses and a decline in overall farm output.
Source: PhilNews24 | May 29, 2026
EL NIÑO MAY SLASH PH RICE PRODUCTION BY 700,000 METRIC TONS—DA
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