A lawmaker is urging local government units and community organizations to come up with practical climate adaptation projects, including rainwater harvesting systems, amid threats of prolonged dry condition that could affect Metro Manila and 47 other provinces across the country.

Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan the government has earmarked P1-billion People’s Survival Fund (PSF) for projects aimed at reducing communities’ vulnerability to climate-related risks.

“In the 2026 General Appropriations Act, Congress allocated P1 billion for the People’s Survival Fund to help finance climate adaptation initiatives, including the installation of functional rainwater collection and storage systems that can strengthen communities’ resilience against potential freshwater shortages,” Libanan said.

Libanan issued the call as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that Metro Manila and 47 provinces could experience below-normal rainfall in the coming months as El Niño develops.

PAGASA forecasts Metro Manila, 35 provinces in Luzon, nine provinces in the Visayas and two in Mindanao could possibly experience “dry condition” by November.

In Luzon, this will like affect Abra, Albay, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Laguna, Marinduque, Masbate, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Sorsogon, Tarlac, and Zambales.

PAGASA also projects “dry spell” by November in Camarines Sur. A dry spell is defined as three consecutive months of below-normal rainfall, equivalent to a 21 percent to 60 percent reduction from average precipitation.

In the Visayas, potential dry condition will likely occur in Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.

In Mindanao, the provinces of Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte are also projected to be under dry condition by November.

“We should make rainwater harvesting a regular practice so communities can build up additional freshwater reserves before severe dry periods set in,” Libanan said.

“Every liter of rainwater captured and stored today can help cushion households and communities from water shortages tomorrow. Investing in rainwater harvesting is one of the simplest, most practical, and most cost-effective climate adaptation measures available to us,” he added.

PAGASA defines “dry condition” as two consecutive months of below-normal rainfall, equivalent to a 21 percent to 60 percent reduction from average precipitation.