MANILA (October 6) — More Philippine provinces could slip into drought by early 2027 as El Niño intensifies, threatening water supplies and putting communities under pressure to conserve what remains.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) warned Monday that drought conditions are expected to expand from October through March, with more provinces potentially reaching the red, or drought, category by February and March 2027.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the effects of El Niño that began emerging between August and October could continue through the first half of next year.
“The number of provinces that will have drought conditions is also increasing,” Solidum said during a Palace briefing.
The warning is particularly significant for Mindanao, where 22 provinces were already experiencing dry conditions as of September, according to DOST.
Nationwide, drought had been recorded in Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Negros Oriental, Western Samar and Siquijor.
Capiz, Leyte and Misamis Oriental were experiencing dry spell conditions, while Masbate, Sorsogon, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar and Southern Leyte were under dry conditions.
With the dry period expected to worsen, Solidum urged government agencies and communities to start conserving water rather than wait for supplies to become critical.
“We need to prepare for El Niño, even if its effects will be greater next year, so that we can continue the water supply that we already have,” he said.
He said conservation must involve both government and households, including protecting water stored in dams and underground sources.
“It depends on how we conserve the water available in our dams and in the ground,” Solidum said.
The warning puts pressure on government agencies to prepare water systems, agriculture and other essential services for months of worsening dryness, while households face the more immediate task of managing available water.
For Mindanao communities already experiencing dry conditions, the forecast offers an early warning: the water shortage expected in 2027 will depend not only on rainfall, but also on how well authorities and communities conserve and manage supplies now.
