Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) will showcase a new tool in monitoring the impact of Super El Niño at the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (NSTW).
The NSTW is the grand annual gathering of the scientific community to promote awareness on the contributions of science, technology, and innovation in advancing the country’s socio-economic status through research and development. It will happen on Nov. 25–29 in General Santos City.
DOST-PAGASA said it uses the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Assessment Simplified (EASi) Tool to analyze the effects of climate change and variability, specifically the phenomena of El Niño, La Niña, and neutral phase, across different regions.
ENSO is an ocean atmosphere climate system that describes how the temperatures and atmospheric pressure patterns in the Pacific Ocean change, causing major global climate variability.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that ENSO is the “most influential driver of year-to-year global climate variability,” affecting rainfall, temperature, storms, droughts, and floods.
In the Philippines, DOST recently reported that the country would experience a “very strong” El Niño that would persist in the last quarter of the year and gradually subside until the first half of 2027.
“The net effect is that we will have less rainfall – more than 60 percent reduction for at least three months by March (2027) – and an increase in temperature,” Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said.
Through the EASi tool, historical local rainfall and ENSO will be shown through dynamic visualizations, such as interactive graphs, maps, and charts, enabling assessment of the climate phenomenon impacts.
It features a customizable data display that allows users to select specific regions and analyze rainfall trends under varying ENSO phases using data from the DOST-PAGASA Climate and Agrometeorological Data Section
“This is a visual resource for climate specialists, agriculturists, and related agencies to quickly make assessments based on the given parameters,” DOST-PAGASA said.
This allows the national weather bureau to aid in identifying specific regional impacts, including issuing timely forecasts and advisories for El Niño and La Niña, anchored on DOST-PAGASA’s initiatives to provide technologies for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.
The tool will also be integrated into the El Niño Online Platform for easy access to ensure strategy and readiness to counter the effects of the climate phenomenon.
The technology will be featured on the science and technology exhibit in the 2026 NSTW under the wealth protection pillar of the DOST, a cluster pertaining to technologies tailored to the Philippine context for disaster and climate change resilience.
