Jaehwa Bernardo

Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Bodjie” Dy III formally takes his oath as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, following the resignation of Martin Romualdez. Lawmakers witnessed the transition, which marks a significant political shift in the lower chamber.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178470066208120250917-house-speaker-faustino-bojie-dy-MT39.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">House Speaker Faustino &#x27;Bodjie&#x27; Dy III in September 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III of Isabela criticized Wednesday government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), over the supposedly long period of time it took to prepare for El Niño, with measures like cloud seeding only starting in July.</p><p>Dy called it unacceptable for government bodies to be pointing fingers at one another on protocols when asked about the alleged delay.</p><p>He said that he understands protocols but also said early preparations would have allowed government to conduct interventions sooner.</p><p>“So hindi katanggap-tanggap, [assistant secretary], na nagtuturuan tayo dahil lang doon sa protocol na nangyayari.  Kung naaksiyunan ‘to nang mas maaga, hindi ngayong July lang tayo magco-cloud seeding,” Dy said at a House Committee on Agriculture and Food hearing.</p><p>(It is unacceptable, Asec, to be pointing fingers just because of protocols. If this had been acted on sooner, we would not be doing cloud seeding only in July.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/6/25/pagasa-more-than-60-chance-of-super-el-ni-o-by-late-2026-2130"><strong>PAGASA: More than 60% chance of ‘super’ El Niño by late 2026<br/></strong></a></div><p>Prior to this, NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said they have long been requesting cloud seeding with the DA, even bringing the matter up to the president.</p><p>But they were also later informed that the Philippine Air Force’s team for cloud seeding had been disbanded.</p><p>Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has already established an agreement with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Philippine Air Force personnel in connection to this, according to Agriculture Assistant Secretary U-Nichols Manalo.</p><p>“Ang conduct of cloud seeding operations is being done either through the Philippine Air Force or sa private planes... Nagkataon lang po na ‘yung manpower as mentioned by our administrator ng NIA, ‘yung Philippine Air Force na weather centers that are capacitated to do the cloud seeding operations ay nagkaroon po ng reorganizations,” Manalo said during the hearing.</p><p>(Cloud seeding operations are either done through the Philippine Air Force or private planes. It just so happened that the Philippine Air Force weather centers have had reorganizations.)</p><p>Earlier during the committee meeting, Dy stressed El Niño will impact not only farmers, but also food security as he pointed out that the weather phenomenon had been anticipated.</p><p>“Bakit ang tagal natin na gumawa ng action plan (Why is the action plan taking so long)?” Dy said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/7/7/el-nino-is-expected-to-break-records-top-expert-1950"><strong>El Niño is expected &#x27;to break records&#x27;: top expert</strong></a></div><p><strong></strong>The committee’s chairperson, Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Enverga, later said government needs to be more proactive in its interventions.</p><p>“I think the point is kung April pa lang, nandito na tayo sa transition na ito. Na-discover niyo na ‘yung mga changes within the Philippine Air Force… Kaya nga– medyo late na tayo eh,” Enverga said.</p><p>(I think is we were already in the transition in April. You found out there were changes in the Philippine Air Force... that&#x27;s why we are a little late.)</p><p>Guillen then said they are recommending the creation of a composite team for swifter approvals.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g0rqjZz-yhg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>House Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III criticized Wednesday government agencies over the supposedly long period of time it took to prepare for El Niño, with measures like cloud seeding only starting in July.</p>

House Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III criticized Wednesday government agencies over the supposedly long period of time it took to prepare for El Niño, with measures like cloud seeding only starting in July.

House speaker slams agencies for supposedly late El Niño preparation

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House speaker slams agencies for supposedly late El Niño preparation

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 22, 2026 02:39 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

El Nino

weather

preparation

Department of Agriculture

National Irrigation Administration

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