Manila, Oct. 19 -- The national government has set aside PHP7.86 billion in disaster response funds to address the impacts of the very strong El Nino phenomenon, which has already caused billions of pesos in agricultural losses.

The Philippines has adopted a whole-of-government approach to managing water and food supplies as it prepares for the more severe effects of El Nino, which is forecast to continue until the first half of 2027.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson and Disaster Preparedness Service Director Vic Tomas said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City that initial government assistance worth about PHP76.4 million has been distributed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), OCD and ot...