Malacañang has called on government agencies to accelerate spending and step up preparations to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

Upon the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Executive Secretary Ralph Recto convened key government agencies at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Thursday to fast-track the delivery of public services.

“We have one more quarter to improve spending for the year. Let’s get our acts together in the fourth quarter,” Recto told the government agencies, as quoted by the Office of the Executive Secretary in a news release on Saturday.

“Spend and start doing early procurement, especially on programs that would strengthen our response against El Niño. This way, we can fully catch up in the first quarter of next year.”

Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, and Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Recto reviewed each agency’s spending performance with its respective secretary.

He called for early procurement preparations for 2027 programs to ensure the timely implementation of projects and propel economic growth.

Government disbursements grew by 7.5 percent in the first three quarters of 2026, Recto noted.

He urged agencies to sustain the momentum and maximize the final quarter by accelerating projects and assistance programs ready for implementation.

Priority programs include education, health, infrastructure and transport procurement, cash assistance, and employment support.

The government will also prioritize interventions to help farmers and fisherfolk prepare for El Niño, including solar-powered seed cold storage and irrigation systems. (PNA)