Bongbong Marcos Calls on Filipinos to Grow Their Own Vegetables as Super El Niño Looms
BONGBONG MARCOS – Remember the plantita craze during the pandemic? President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants Filipinos to bring it back as the country prepares for potentially severe dry conditions.
President Bongbong Marcos is encouraging Filipinos to revive the country’s Green Revolution by growing their own vegetables as the Philippines prepares for the possible effects of Super El Niño.
During a press briefing in Singapore on Sunday, October 11, Marcos emphasized that prolonged dry conditions could significantly affect vegetable production, potentially creating challenges for the agricultural sector and household food supplies.
“The only thing that will be hard-hit will be vegetables,” the President said.
He explained that the lack of water and increasingly dry conditions could affect crops, prompting him to encourage the public to return to home gardening practices.
“Kasi walang tubig, tuyot lahat. So, sabi ko, balikan natin ‘yong Green Revolution. Let’s encourage everybody… nagka-Green Revolution na tayo noon a long time ago, tapos noong pandemic nabuha ‘yong plantita, ituloy na natin ‘yon. Let’s just keep that going, get everybody to plant their own vegetables,” he added.
Marcos acknowledged that growing vegetables at home would not completely resolve the challenges brought by the weather phenomenon. However, he said the initiative could provide practical assistance to households by encouraging families to produce some of their own food.
The President also offered advice on conserving water, urging Filipinos to prepare containers, such as buckets, to collect rainwater whenever it rains.
“Collect.. bumili na kayo ng balde para ‘pag umulan, makolekta na ninyo lahat,” Marcos said.
He added that the government plans to distribute water filters and educate the public on properly treating and filtering collected rainwater to help prevent illnesses and make the water safer for use, including for young children.
“Tuturuan namin kayo… we will give you the filter, We will teach you how to do everything para hindi kayo magkasakit at maayos ang pag-treat ng tubig, pag-filter ng tubig. And it will be healthy even for little children,” he said.
Aside from promoting household gardening and rainwater collection, Marcos mentioned plans for cloud-seeding operations and the continuation of irrigation projects to support farmers and protect agricultural production against severe drought.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) previously indicated that Super El Niño could affect the country from October to December 2026, with the possibility of extending into the first quarter of 2027.
As the country braces for potentially drier conditions, the government is encouraging practical measures to conserve water, support food production, and help communities prepare for the possible effects of the climate phenomenon.
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