All provinces could experience dry condition, drought by end of March 2027 - DOST

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All provinces in the country are expected to experience dry condition or drought by the end of March 2027 due to El Niño, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said Monday.

“By end of March, lahat ng probinsya,” Solidum said in a press briefing when asked how many provinces will experience drought or a dry condition by March.

(All the provinces by the end of March.)

PAGASA defines dry condition as “two consecutive months of below normal (21%-60% reduction from average) rainfall conditions.”

A dry spell occurs during “three consecutive months of below normal (21%-60% reduction from average) rainfall conditions” or “two consecutive months of way below normal (more than 60% reduction from average) rainfall conditions.”

Meanwhile, a drought is “three consecutive months of way below normal (>60% reduction from average)” or “five consecutive months of below normal (21%-60% reduction from average) rainfall condition.”

“So talagang mas kakaonti ang tubig na babagsak,” Solidum explained.

(So there will really be less water that will fall.)

Currently, Solidum said that seven provinces are experiencing drought, which is expected to increase in the coming months.

Asked if this meant that a water crisis was inevitable, Solidum said this was dependent on the government and the public’s usage of water.

“Again as what I said earlier sa opening statement. How much we manage it, how much we conserve will be affecting whether we have a crisis or not,” he said.

(Again, as to what I said earlier in the opening statement. How much we manage it, how much we conserve, will affect whether we have a crisis or not.)

“Balance ‘yan ng available at gasto natin,” he added.

(That’s the balance between what is available and what we spend.)

Meanwhile, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna reiterated his agency’s appeal to the public to conserve water.

“Marami pong maaring gawin ang ating mga mamamayan. Mga simpleng bagay katulad ng habang naliligo hindi dapat tumatakbo ang tubig. Pati pag sisipilyo. At mag ipon ng tubig, ‘yun ang mahalaga talaga,” he said.

(There are many things that our citizens can do. Simple things like not letting the water run while taking a bath. The same when brushing your teeth. And storing water, that’s what is really important.)

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro also discouraged panic buying.

“Tayo po ay sanay na sa El Niño, pero syempre may iba-ibang level. Because nandyan na rin po ‘yung sinasabi natin na climate change, nag babago ‘yung panahon. Pero nandito po ‘yung pamahalaan para po ihanda tayong lahat,” she said.

(We are already accustomed to El Niño, but of course, there are different levels. Because there is also what we call climate change, the weather is changing. But the government is here to prepare us all.)

“Hindi po nararapat at hindi po dapat na ginagawa ang pag panic buying kasi mas makakaapekto ito sa isipan ng ating mga kababayan na instead na maghanda tayo ng tama, tamang pag hahanda eh magkakaroon pa po tayo ng takot,” she added.

(It is not appropriate and should not be done to panic-buy because this will only affect the mindset of our fellow Filipinos more, so instead of preparing properly, we will end up becoming afraid.)

PAGASA, meanwhile, advised the public to avoid hoarding bottled water. —RF, GMA News