Should Pinoys panic about the looming El Niño?

MANILA, Philippines — The answer from experts is clear: No. But with forecasts pointing to a potentially strong El Niño that could persist into 2027, the time to prepare is now.

From water security and food supply to public health, energy availability, and business continuity, prolonged dry conditions could affect nearly every aspect of daily life.

Recognizing that resilience begins with awareness, PLDT and Smart recently brought together experts from government, water management, agriculture, and business continuity to help employees better understand and prepare for these challenges, reinforcing the company’s #KonektedforResilience advocacy and its broader commitment to nation-building through informed and resilient communities.

According to Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the impact of El Niño depends not only on the severity of the weather phenomenon itself, but also on how prepared people are to respond.

“An El Niño forecast tells us what may happen. But it is preparedness and implementation that will determine impact,” said Solidum. He noted that prolonged dry conditions can affect water security, agriculture, public health, energy supply and business operations, making preparedness a shared responsibility among government, businesses and communities.

“Resilience is not simply surviving, we must also be economically thriving,” he added, emphasizing the importance of protecting both lives and livelihoods amid climate-related disruptions.

“Preparedness starts with understanding,” said Roby Alampay, first vice persident and head of Public Engagement Group of PLDT and Smart. “Climate resilience is not only about infrastructure and technology. When the workforce understands how climate risks affect water, food, health, and connectivity, they become advocates for preparedness in their own households and communities and contribute to a more resilient nation.”

The importance of credible information was echoed by Ana Liza Solis, chief of the Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section of DOST-PAGASA.

“Situational awareness is one of the most important actions Filipinos can take as the country prepares for El Niño,” said Solis, encouraging the public to regularly monitor official forecasts, advisories and climate tools to make informed decisions before impacts become severe.

Water security was also a key focus of the discussion. “Conservation should not just be a slogan. It has to be an actionable partnership with the community,” said Ronaldo Padua, VP and head of Water Supply Operations at Maynilad, stressing that water security depends not only on infrastructure investments but also on responsible water use.

Beyond water, El Niño also threatens food systems, livelihoods and household budgets. Christine Jodloman, executive director of AGREA Foundation, urged families to prepare by reducing food waste, planning meals carefully, supporting local food producers and growing their own food supply, including drought-resilient crops such as cassava, sweet potato, mung beans, squash, okra, eggplant and malunggay. She also highlighted the need to strengthen local food systems and support farmers and fisherfolk who form the backbone of the country’s food supply.

Within PLDT and Smart, preparations are already underway to help ensure service continuity while promoting responsible resource use across operations. The Group continues to optimize resource management, strengthen business continuity measures, prepare facilities for extreme weather conditions and help safeguard critical infrastructure that supports connectivity services nationwide.

“We should not wait for shortages before we change our habits,” said Miguel Gutierrez, senior manager and head of Business Continuity Tactical Response Engineering. “We should already be adjusting how we use water, consume food and manage resources today.”

As climate challenges continue to reshape communities across the country, PLDT and Smart remain committed to promoting science-based learning and preparedness, through the Group’s #KonektedforResilience program. By equipping employees with knowledge and encouraging them to bring that learning into their homes and communities, the group hopes to help build a more resilient and climate-ready Philippines.