President Ferdinand Marcos Jr urged Filipinos to buy buckets or other containers to store rainwater as the country is facing a looming worldwide El Nino weather phenomenon.

He made this statement in an interview with reporters in Singapore on Sunday, where he was on a five-day working visit that ended on Sunday, saying this is part of a broader program to save water as drought will be expected when El Nino occurs.

“Tuturuan namin kayo – we’ll give you how to fill – ‘yung gamot para maging malinis. We’ll give you the filter. We’ll teach you how to do everything para hindi kayo magkasakit at maayos ang pag-treat ng tubig, pag-filter ng tubig. And it will be healthy even for little children. So that’s water supply,” Marcos said.

According to climate models and expert evaluations, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) saidd the phenomenon is expected to intensify into a very strong one between the September–December 2026 season and persist through the first half of 2027.

Dry spells and drought along with short-term rainy rainfall are expected to be experienced.

Marcos said his initial order is to secure electricity and medical supplies in hospitals, and prepare the agriculture sector to ensure local food supply.

“We met with everyone involved. Inuna ko ‘yung hospital. That, to make sure that hospitals stay open, they have their medical supplies, they have the appropriate supplies for what they anticipate will be the diseases that will come out of a very, very dry season,” said the President on the medical facilities.

“The next is to go to agri. Well, agri, we’re okay for our rice supply. We’re all right…we’re starting… harvest season now. Our harvest is good. Hindi na matatamaan ng El Niño. So, okay na tayo for that. It’s the next season that we need to be thinking about,” Marcos added. Presidential News Desk-PHS