The Office of the Vice-President (OVP) will roll out an information drive to educate the public on the impact of El Niño and provide practical guides for households and agricultural workers, Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Monday.

El Niño is a recurring climate pattern, occurring irregularly every two to seven years, marked by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. For the Philippines, its effects are typically associated with below-normal rainfall and prolonged dry spells.

Speaking at a press briefing in Mandaluyong City, Ms. Duterte said public awareness is critical as dry spells threaten agricultural yields, food supplies, and household spending.

“What I would like to say regarding the El Niño phenomenon that is approaching and has arrived is that the Office of the Vice-President will conduct information dissemination, educating the public so they can better understand what El Niño is,” Ms. Duterte said in Filipino, according to an official transcript shared by her office.

She added that the campaign will offer plain, accessible guidance to help communities manage climate-related risks.

“We will make the explanation of El Niño ordinary and simple, and we will provide education or guides to our people on what they can do so that we can all work together in facing the El Niño phenomenon,” she said.

Ms. Duterte did not specify an exact date or timeline for the rollout of the information campaign, leaving details on when and how the guides will reach communities to be announced.

— Erika Mae P. Sinaking, BusinessWorld