SENATOR Erwin Tulfo has sounded the alarm on the severe threats posed by a potential “Super El Niño,” stressing that proactive planning and adequate funding are critical to preventing widespread agricultural damage, soaring food prices, and livelihood losses.
Speaking in the Senate, Tulfo formally raised the issue, directing it to the Reinvigorate Investment and Sustainable Economic Growth (RISE) Ad Hoc Committee.
He emphasized that the government must act swiftly, noting that prior agricultural losses from dry spells have already climbed to ₱6.87 billion, impacting over 223,000 farmers according to Department of Agriculture data.
“We should not wait for farms to dry up, communities to run out of water, and our fellow Filipinos to suffer before taking action,” Tulfo said, clarifying that his call aims to spur early preparation rather than panic.
While acknowledging the existing El Niño Task Force, the senator argued that the response must extend beyond agriculture.
State weather bureau PAGASA warned that the phenomenon is projected to intensify toward the end of 2026 and persist into early 2027.
The looming crisis threatens multiple sectors.
Department of Energy Secretary Sharon Garin warned of possible power rate hikes and increased outages due to surging electricity consumption, though she assured the public that the government is closely monitoring the energy market.
Meanwhile, economic analysts, including Ibon Foundation executive director Sonny Africa, cautioned that combining extreme weather with existing supply-side pressures and a weakening peso could heavily impact inflation and drive up the cost of basic commodities.
With 106 local government units already placed under a state of calamity and hundreds of thousands of individuals affected, Tulfo reiterated that prompt government intervention is non-negotiable to shield vulnerable Filipino households from deepening economic hardship.