Marcos urges Filipinos to store rainwater as El Niño intensifies

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 13, 2026

Photo courtesy: Multiple Sources

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is urging households to prepare water containers and collect rainwater as the government braces for worsening dry conditions brought by El Niño.

Speaking to reporters in Singapore on Oct. 11, Marcos said water conservation would form part of the administration’s public information campaign, telling Filipinos to prepare buckets so rainwater can be stored whenever rainfall occurs. 

“Collect, bumili na kayo ng balde para ‘pag umulan, makolekta na ninyo lahat.”

The President said the government would also teach households how to properly filter and treat collected water to minimize health risks. 

Marcos said the government plans to teach the public how collected rainwater can be filtered and properly treated to reduce health risks. He also said authorities would provide information and filtration support as part of the campaign. 

The administration is simultaneously preparing measures for hospitals, agriculture, schools and water supply. Marcos said hospitals were among the first sectors ordered to ensure sufficient electricity, medicines and medical supplies during an extended dry period. 

The government is also preparing cloud-seeding operations and agricultural assistance, while agencies have been asked to produce detailed action plans covering the expected effects of El Niño. 

Marcos has additionally called for a renewed household and community gardening drive, similar to the government’s “Green Revolution” approach, as officials prepare for possible pressure on vegetable and food supplies during the dry months. 

PAGASA said a strong to very strong El Niño is currently present in the tropical Pacific and could peak before the end of 2026. The weather bureau expects the phenomenon to continue through the first half of 2027, increasing the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, dry spells and drought in parts of the country. 

The weather bureau has advised government agencies and the public to take preparedness measures as rainfall conditions become increasingly unfavorable in the coming months.