Schools, public health facilities and small businesses must prepare early for a projected “Super El Niño” that could intensify heat and economic pressures in the coming months, Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said as he urged the Senate to reactivate its crisis response committee.
Aquino asked Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian to reconvene the Senate’s Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee ahead of the expected intensification of El Niño toward the end of 2026 and its projected persistence through the first quarter of 2027.
He identified education, public health and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as priority sectors that need coordinated government support before conditions worsen.
The committee was formed in March 2026 to address global supply chain disruptions.
During a Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee B hearing on the education budget, Aquino questioned whether schools had enough resources to address possible water shortages, particularly for sanitation, canteens and students’ drinking water.
“El Niño, okay. We’re assuming that ‘yung tubig mas magiging mahirap in a few months. I know there are already 100-plus municipalities who have declared an emergency because of El Niño. Are our schools prepared for a possible shortage of water?
“Gusto ko lang i-flag ‘yung lack of water for the CR, for the canteen, drinking water, for hydration. Naka-budget na ba ‘tong El Niño preparation natin for the schools? This next year’s MOOE, kasama ‘to mga provisions na ito? Or ipagkakasya na lang nila, parang basic na ito?” Aquino said.
He also proposed issuing preparedness guidelines to school principals and teachers, including measures to conserve water and maintain sanitation without placing additional pressure on school budgets.
Aquino suggested that schools explore solar power for lighting and electric fans, as well as prepare containers and other equipment to store water for sanitation separately from drinking supplies.
“For the lights and the fans, no? I think kaya ‘yung lights and electric fans ng solar, no? Okay, so Secretary, maybe just as a suggestion, not really a budget item, but going into next year, maybe a memo from the executive talking to the teachers and the principals on how to prepare for the El Niño. Catchment of water, mga balde, mga jerry can, or ways to be able to keep water for sanitation. Iba pa ‘yung water for drinking,” he said.
Aquino also called on the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGUs) to prepare hospitals and health centers for illnesses linked to extreme heat.
He said health facilities should have sufficient medical supplies and clear action plans to protect vulnerable groups, including outdoor workers, commuting students and senior citizens.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Trade, Aquino is also pushing for financial relief for small businesses and working families facing potential increases in utility and commodity costs.
He proposed that state lending institutions, including the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund and Small Business Corp., freeze interest payments and waive penalties from January to March 2027.
Aquino said early coordination among government agencies was necessary to prevent the climate phenomenon from worsening existing economic and public health challenges.
“Proactive, kailangan naghahandaan na tayo. Hindi yung parang pag-dating doon pa lang tayo gagalaw, ‘di ba? ‘Yung kaya tayo, kaya ang raming nating problema kasi late na tayo gumalaw. Dapat maaga pa lang gumagalaw na tayo,” he said.
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