President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged Filipinos to prepare for a possible Super El Niño by buying buckets to collect rainwater, as the government plans to distribute water filters and provide instructions on how to treat stored water safely.

Marcos on Sunday said the government would teach the public how to filter and treat collected rainwater to ensure it is safe for use and prevent waterborne illnesses.

“Bumili na kayo ng balde para kapag umulan makokolekta na ninyo lahat. Tuturuan namin kayo” Marcos said.

“We’ll give you filter. We’ll 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 for the children.”

The president said collecting rainwater would be part of the public’s efforts to prepare for a possible drought and water shortage if El Niño affects the country.

The government is also planning to conduct cloud-seeding operations as part of its preparations for the potential weather phenomenon.

El Niño is a climate pattern associated with warmer-than-usual sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It can bring below-normal rainfall and prolonged dry conditions to parts of the Philippines, increasing the risk of drought and water shortages.