Land is life. Nobody understands this better than a farmer. And when wells dry up and fields crack under scorching heat, they are also the most directly affected.

Across the country, the drought and dry spells El Nino brought have impacted food security, water supply, health, education, and infrastructure, causing widespread economic and social repercussions, and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.

Affected populations dealing with the effects of the phenomenon and, at the same time, bracing for the impact of La Nina, are also still recovering from recent hazards, including Typhoon Doksuri, which hit northern Philippine provinces in July 2023, and the widespread flooding in Eastern Visayas in November 2023. In Mindanao, communities are reeling from the flooding, landslides, and earthquakes in early 2024 while facing sporadic displacements due to chronic conflict.

The agriculture sector, particularly farmers and fisherfolk of already limited means, has been hit the hardest. 

According to the Department of Agriculture, losses total PHP 9.50 billion (EUR 151 million), affecting 163,694 hectares of farmland across 12 regions, with 47,828 hectares (29.22%) beyond recovery. The ACCESS project estimates that 5.5 million people in drought-affected provinces are engaged in farming and fishing, with 1.6 million living below the poverty line. 

El Nino’s widespread impacts

In areas monitored by the ACCESS consortium and member organizations of the Humanitarian Partnerships Platform (HPP), we are seeing a host of negative impacts:

• Agriculture

Because of insufficient rainfall and water shortages, there have been extensive crop failures and delays in planting affecting corn, rice, vegetables, and other high-value crops. There are reports of deaths among livestock, and poultry and fishery are also affected. This not only reduces the incomes of households dependent on agriculture for livelihood but may also intensify overall food insecurity.

• Economic and social impacts 

Drastic income reductions have forced farmers and fisherfolk to go increasingly into debt and borrow money from informal lenders with high interest rates. Some move to more urbanized areas to look for alternative work, and others have resorted to selling their livestock. People are eating less, with upland farmers reducing meals from three to just one daily. 

• Water, sanitation, and hygiene

There is a severe shortage of water for domestic and agricultural uses. Where it’s still available, the price has been increasing. In some areas, there is intermittent supply; in others, people travel to other towns to fetch water.

• Health

There are reports of dehydration, diarrhea, skin diseases, respiratory issues, and other heat-related illnesses. 

• Education 

Schools have had to suspend classes or adjust their schedules to avoid the extreme heat.

Women and girls, persons with disabilities, and older persons face heightened risks

These conditions place certain groups in danger. Women bear a disproportionate burden, managing both care duties and livelihood activities to make up for incomes lost, often sacrificing their own needs. For instance, some eat last to make sure their children and husbands have enough food. 

Increased stress levels, the loss of work, scarce resources, and the disruption of daily life can aggravate existing tensions within households and contribute to often-unreported cases of gender based violence (GBV). Women and children also face higher risks of physical and sexual harm when tasked to secure food and water by traveling farther than usual. 

Persons with disabilities and older persons who have limited mobility now have an even harder time accessing food, water, and basic social services. Women with disabilities, in particular, are doubly affected: decreased household incomes may prevent them from meeting dietary, medical, and rehabilitation needs as their families prioritize food and other essentials. They are also five times more likely to experience sex-based violence, including domestic violence, due to perceptions that they cannot report incidents or will not be believed. Additionally, reporting systems are often inaccessible. 

Building drought resilience, preparing for La Nina

ACCESS and HPP partners have conducted needs assessments, a rapid humanitarian analysis, and initial response activities in drought-affected areas in Northern and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Food is emerging as the most pressing need, and livelihood assistance—seeds, farm inputs, water irrigation facilities, and tools—are essential for recovery.

Even as El Nino’s effects may extend into August in some provinces, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomic Services Administration (PAGASA) expects La Nina to set in between June and August and about 13 to 16 more cyclones to arrive this year. These may compound the negative impacts on vulnerable populations. Humanitarian aid must thus take these forecasts into consideration. 

And while emergency response addresses people’s most urgent needs, to more effectively build resilience to drought, longer-term solutions, including those focusing on ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction, are vital.

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ACCESS is a multi-year, multi-sectoral project funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and implemented by consortium members ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, CO Multiversity, Humanity & Inclusion – Philippines, and Save the Children Philippines. 

The Humanitarian Partnership Platform is a network of 13 local organizations plus CARE as convenor, enabling rapid, scalable, and coordinated disaster response, emphasizing flexible funding and gender sensitivity, and leveraging local expertise and resources.