Technology · Philippines Bureau
All Philippine provinces face drought risk by March 2027, warns DOST
The Department of Science and Technology cautioned Monday that intensifying El Niño effects will expose every province in the Philippines to drought conditions within the next two years. The warning underscores growing concerns about the climate phenomenon's expanding impact across the archipelago.
LSN Philippines ·
Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. issued the stark assessment during a Palace briefing, noting that by the end of March 2027, all provinces are projected to experience drought-related conditions. The timeline reflects the department's expectation that El Niño's effects will continue to strengthen and spread across the country.
The warning marks an escalation in official concern about the climate pattern's reach and severity. Previously, drought impacts had been concentrated in specific regions, but the DOST's projection suggests a nationwide phenomenon developing over the coming months.
El Niño, a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the Pacific, typically brings reduced rainfall to parts of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. The current episode has already prompted water management concerns and agricultural warnings in various provinces.
The science department's forecast comes as government agencies prepare contingency measures for potential water shortages and crop failures. Officials are expected to coordinate response strategies to mitigate the anticipated impacts across the country's agricultural and urban sectors.