VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte expressed contempt for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s advice for the public to collect rainwater in buckets to prepare for Super El Niño.
Speaking during a press briefing with national media on Monday, Duterte addressed the Chief Executive’s call for citizens to buy containers to gather rainwater during the severe dry spell.
“You saw it. I said in my statement that we can no longer expect anything from the President. So I will no longer comment on (his nonsense),” Duterte said.
The President had urged households to collect rainwater as part of mitigation efforts for a “very strong El Niño,” promising government-provided water filters and instructions on how to treat harvested water.
Rather than relying on central administration directives, Duterte announced that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) will roll out its own nationwide public education campaign to help communities navigate the economic and health impacts of the drought.
The campaign aims to simplify complex climate forecasts into practical, everyday guides for families, farmers, and local communities.
“I just want to say that regarding the El Niño phenomenon… the Office of the Vice President will be doing information dissemination, educating the public,” Duterte explained, highlighting that the campaign will cover personal health precautions, household water management, and the projected impact of drought on food prices and supply chains.
The Vice President emphasized that the initiative will specifically target agricultural workers, offering simplified advice on how farmers can protect their crops and secure harvests despite severe water scarcity.
“We will do this and provide education or guidance to our people on what they can do so that we can all help each other in dealing with the El Niño phenomenon,” she added.