By DTI assures stable basic goods prices, sufficient supply amid El Niño
The Department of Trade and Industry assured consumers of stable prices and sufficient supplies of basic goods and bottled water amid the El Niño threat, ABS-CBN News reported on October 15, 2026.
The assurance comes as strong to very strong El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific increase the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, dry spells and drought in some parts of the Philippines, according to PAGASA.
Basic goods assurance and local supply
DTI’s assurance covers basic goods and bottled water. Specific figures on retail prices and available stocks in Baguio, Benguet and the Cordillera have not yet been detailed, nor have consumer-reporting steps tied to the assurance.
For Cordillera readers, PAGASA’s October agroclimatic outlook includes the region among areas with rice and corn at various stages of development. The national supply assurance is not a local inventory of bottled water or basic goods.
El Niño may continue into 2027
PAGASA’s October 7 advisory forecasts El Niño to continue through the first half of 2027, with a possible peak before the end of 2026.
For October, the weather agency expects below-normal to near-normal rainfall nationwide and warmer to slightly warmer mean temperatures across most areas. Northern Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon and Bohol are exceptions to the temperature outlook, with cooler to slightly cooler-than-average conditions expected.
Despite the increased risk of dry conditions, El Niño does not rule out heavy rainfall. PAGASA said tropical cyclones and other rain-bearing weather systems can still bring above-normal rainfall.
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