By Maria Mikaela H. Tormon

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said the Philippines needed to bring in rice imports before the region’s major rice-growing countries feel the full impact in preparing for the coming months of a very strong El Niño that will affect the Southeast Asian region.

“That’s practically the main reason why we’re open to importation, because Vietnam is also affected,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel V. de Mesa at a briefing last week.

“If we’re strict with imports now and we decide to just import next year for our first and second semester requirements (we might) find out they have nothing to export because of El Niño. Then we’ll have a problem,” he said. 

The government is preparing for an El Niño that could last as long as April or May 2027, Mr. de Mesa said.

“It’s difficult if we have the money but we don’t have anything to buy. It’s better that the rice is already here and other food goods as well,” he added.

During the 27^th session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Climate Forum, the conference participants considered a draft indicating a consensus that a very strong El Niño will affect the region between December and February.

The forum was briefed on forecasts of above-normal temperatures during that period for most of Southeast Asia, including parts of the northern Philippines and northern Vietnam.

Rainfall percentage is also expected to be below-normal for southern Vietnam, irrigated by the Mekong River Delta. According to the International Rice Research Institute, the region produces about 50% of Vietnam’s rice output.

The central region is projected to have near to below-normal rainfall, while northern Vietnam can expect above-normal rainfall in the coming months. 

Le Mai Huong of Vietnam’s Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, Environment and Marine Sciences said rice farming is expected to experience climate-related disruptions such as higher temperature, dry spells and crop stress, which may affect productivity.

Vietnam remains the top source of Philippine rice imports. As of Oct. 22, the Bureau of Plant Industry reported that the Philippines received 2.78 million metric tons of rice from Vietnam.

Published Date: November 3, 2026