At a Meeting called by DTI’s Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) on 2 May 2016 at the Center Conference Room of the Trade & Industry Building in Makati, manufacturers and retailers were briefed by the Phil. Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) regarding the status of El Niño in the country.  The country is experiencing intense heat and it is affecting the crops in the countryside. For April, 39 provinces have declared a state of emergency.  Around 31 will be affected by May and 13 by June as the climate slowly becomes cooler.  However, the potential ill effects of La Niña is waiting by the bend as “PAGASA” states that this phenomenon always ensues following an El Niño. An El Niño/La Niña year takes place around every five years but climate change is erratic now due to global warming.  DTI has monitored the areas declaring a price freeze in view of the havoc brought about by drought on fresh produce.   It called this Meeting to monitor the retail prices of basic necessities and prime commodities to make sure that drought does not translate to higher prices of goods due to lack of fresh produce.