Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum said Saturday that water conservation is a low-cost intervention necessary to extend the available water supply and reduce the impact of El Niño.

In a radio interview with DZRH, Solidum said there is a 92 percent chance that El Niño will develop from June to August, which may last until the early part of 2027, classified as a weak El Niño, but with a possibility of intensifying.

“By September, October, and November of 2026, it may become strong. Then by the October-November period, the ocean could become even warmer, reaching the “very strong” category, which has a 30 percent chance of happening,” Solidum said.

However, Solidum said that having a “stronger event” of El Niño does not necessarily mean severe weather impacts, but it means that the likelihood of effects becomes higher.

Solidum also pointed out that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is also promoting hybrid rice varieties that require less water with the "Alternate Wetting and Drying," which uses less water for farming, and "Quick Turn Around" or QTA, which allows immediate rice replanting right after harvest.

The DA immediately implemented these measures in compliance with President Marcos’ Executive Order No. 53, which directs the government to streamline, reactivate, and reconstitute the old El Niño task forces under Executive Order No. 16 and Memorandum Order No. 38, to help the public cope and minimize their devastating effects.

“If you recall, we also experienced an El Niño episode in 2023, and the government implemented many measures to anticipate its effects and minimize the impact on everyone,” Solidum said in Filipino.

The secretary further explained that when an El Niño period occurs, there are months with reduced rainfall and hotter temperatures, affecting both people’s health and water supply, underscoring the importance of protecting health and the welfare of animals during extreme heat.