Environmental group urges gov’t to declare national climate emergency

Environmental group Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) has urged the government to declare a national climate emergency due to the effects of drought in the country.

State weather bureau PAGASA reported that 15 provinces in Luzon are affected by drought, according to Carlo Mateo’s Super Radyo dzBB report on Sunday.

Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), hiniling sa pamahalaan na magdeklara ng national climate emergency dahil sa lumalalang epekto ng tag-tuyot sa bansa. | via @SurfaceCarlo pic.twitter.com/6QXiG0eA5t

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) April 25, 2026

Laica Rayel, PMCJ senior campaign manager, said the effects of the drought led to fewer harvests as farmers struggled due to a lack of water and the high cost of production.

Isabela and Cagayan provinces have been placed under a state of calamity due to severe drought.

According to the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, agricultural damage has reached over P10.29 billion, affecting thousands of farmers and fisherfolk in the province.

It said agricultural damage has reached over P10.29 billion, affecting thousands of farmers and fisherfolk in the province.

With the declaration, the Cagayan provincial government is authorized to use its calamity fund for relief assistance, restoration of essential services, and rehabilitation efforts.

Earlier this week, PAGASA issued an El Niño Alert as forecast probability rose to 70%, with a chance of developing from June to August.

“[M]ost climate models combined with expert judgements suggest 79% chance of El Niño emerging in June-July-August (JJA) 2026 season and is likely to persist until early 2027. With this development, the DOST-PAGASA ENSO Alert and Warning System is now raised to El Niño Alert," PAGASA said in a statement.

"During an El Niño event, there is an increased possibility of drier-than-usual conditions, which can lead to negative impacts such as droughts and dry spells in some parts of the country. However, above-normal rainfall conditions may also be experienced over the western section of the country during the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) season," it added.

On March 23, PAGASA also announced the end of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan), marking the onset of the dry season.

The public has been advised to take precautions against heat stress and to stay hydrated to prevent dehydration. —RF,GMA News