SINGAPORE — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged Filipinos to prepare buckets and other containers for rainwater collection as the government steps up preparations for a possible Super El Niño and its impact on the country’s water supply.
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| Photo courtesy: Presidential Communications Office (PCO) |
During a Kapihan interview in Singapore on Sunday, October 11, Marcos said the government would launch an information campaign to teach households how to collect, filter and treat rainwater safely.
“Bumili na kayo ng balde para kapag umulan makokolekta na ninyo lahat,” Marcos said, encouraging Filipinos to collect rainwater whenever possible.
He added that the government would provide water filters and guidance on proper treatment to help prevent waterborne illnesses and ensure the water is safe for household use, particularly for children.
The President said rainwater collection and water conservation would form part of a broader response to potential drought and water shortages associated with the climate phenomenon.
The government is also preparing cloud-seeding operations to induce rainfall, including arrangements for scheduling the activities and procuring the necessary materials.
El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-usual sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can bring below-normal rainfall and prolonged dry conditions to parts of the Philippines.
The anticipated weather phenomenon could threaten water supplies and agricultural production, prompting the government to prepare additional measures to mitigate its effects.
Marcos said he had also directed officials to arrange rice imports to help secure the country’s food supply in case prolonged dry conditions disrupt the next cropping season.
Although the current rice harvest was expected to be sufficient, he warned that subsequent harvests could be affected by unfavorable weather conditions.
The President also called for renewed household vegetable gardening under the government’s Green Revolution initiative, noting that vegetable production could be vulnerable to drought.
Meanwhile, the government is preparing hospitals for potential health risks associated with prolonged dry conditions and studying alternative learning arrangements in case extreme heat disrupts face-to-face classes.
The preparations aim to minimize the potential effects of Super El Niño on water security, food supplies, public health and education.
— The Summit Express
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