Philippine agriculture authority on Tuesday was ordered to fast-track irrigation infrastructure projects to better prepare the farming sector for the El Nino, which is being felt in the central and southern regions.

The Department of Agriculture is also supposed to advice farmers in affected areas to use early maturing seeds and small water impounding projects, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said in a news briefing.

El Nino is a periodic change in the atmosphere and ocean of the tropical Pacific region. Effects on weather vary with each event, but it is often associated with floods, droughts and other weather disturbances.

Philippine economic planning officials expect "moderate" El Nino effects in the country to last until early 2010.