AS the country braces for severe dry spells, extreme heat, and water scarcity, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), alongside key government agencies, convened for the Strong El Niño Preparedness and Response Forum on October 21, 2026.
The collaborative gathering aimed to harmonize response strategies, bridge coordination gaps, and map out actionable measures against an El Niño event expected to peak by late 2026 and persist through the first half of 2027.
Grounded in the PRC’s core disaster-preparedness framework—Predict, Plan, Prepare, and Practice—Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon emphasized the critical need for unified community-level readiness and cross-sector partnership.
“We need to understand the overall government response, not just the separate plans of individual agencies,” Gordon stated. “This is a partnership. We want to complement government efforts and ensure that assistance reaches communities when they need it.”
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Dr. Rene F. Solidum Jr. highlighted the importance of localized climate forecasting, noting that El Niño impacts vary across regions.
“A forecast tells us of what may happen. However, preparedness planning determines what we can do about it,” Solidum explained, stressing that the ultimate goal is safeguarding livelihoods and economic development.
PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang echoed these sentiments, pointing out that an estimated 95% of the country will feel the phenomenon’s effects, making proactive collaboration vital.
The forum featured comprehensive briefings from multiple state agencies outlining sector-specific strategies and resource commitments.
Key officials in attendance included Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Asec. Laurence E. Mina, DOH Director Dr. Ronald P. Law, DILG Undersecretary Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, DSWD-DRMG Director Atty. Jun T. Eso, DOE representative Ana Solis, and DA official Engr. Rommel D. Espinosa.
With nationwide volunteers on standby, the PRC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected populations. Communities in need of assistance can reach out through the PRC hotline by dialing 143.