Sen. Loren Legarda has launched a 10-point policy action plan to address the anticipated strong to very strong El Niño, focusing on protecting vulnerable communities, ensuring water and food security, and reducing heat-related risks.
The plan includes installing rainwater catchments in schools, providing water subsidies to low-income families, protecting outdoor workers and fisherfolk from extreme heat, and establishing public cooling centers.
It also proposes compensating Indigenous forest guards, promoting heat-reflective roofing, and developing community gardens with drought-resistant trees and crops in disadvantaged areas.
To protect agriculture, Legarda recommended financial assistance and field coaching to help farmers shift to drought-resistant crops.
The initiative follows her filing of Senate Resolution No. 733, which seeks early, science-based interventions, adequate funding, and accountability in the government’s response to El Niño.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 24, 2026
