What You Need to Know
• Apu Penneng, an Ifugao elder, prepares for the Tinawon rice harvest in Batad, Philippines.
• Super Typhoon Fung-wong caused a landslide in November 2025, damaging 2.2 hectares of rice fields.
• The Ifugao community faces increased risks from extreme weather events, including the anticipated Super El Nino.
Apu Penneng, an Ifugao elder, is preparing for the Tinawon rice harvest in Batad, Philippines, where the village awakens beneath its UNESCO World Heritage Site rice terraces. In November 2025, Super Typhoon Fung-wong triggered a landslide that resulted in the deaths of two locals and damaged 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres) of rice fields, impacting around 150 farmers. The destruction of an ancient irrigation canal has left a lasting mark on the landscape, with visible deforestation above the terraces. The community has experienced multiple landslides in recent years, including in 2011, 2023, and 2025, raising concerns about future damage due to the expected onset of Super El Nino, which is associated with extreme weather patterns.
Why It Matters
The Ifugao community’s reliance on rice farming makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events. The rice terraces of Batad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are not only an agricultural resource but also a cultural heritage site. The increasing frequency of landslides and severe weather threatens both food security and the preservation of traditional farming practices. Historical data indicates that climate phenomena like Super El Nino can exacerbate weather extremes, leading to more frequent and severe impacts on vulnerable communities like Batad.
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