Cebu province prepares for ‘Strong El Niño’

Local

THE Cebu provincial government has rolled out a province-wide plan to mitigate the potential effects of El Niño on water supply, agriculture, health, energy and essential services.

Based on a copy of the Cebu El Niño Preparedness and Mitigation Plan 2026-27 obtained Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) endorsed the plan to Gov. Pamela Baricuatro for review and approval.

The plan calls for coordinated action among provincial offices, local government units (LGUs), national agencies, water districts, utility providers and private organizations.

It identifies water security as a major concern, noting that prolonged dry conditions could affect communities that rely on surface water, groundwater and intermunicipal water systems.

The PDRRMO will establish a Provincial El Niño Monitoring and Coordination Desk at its command center to track PAGASA climate outlooks, rainfall anomalies, drought advisories and heat index forecasts.

It will also map drought-prone areas, water-stressed communities, agricultural hotspots and fire-prone locations.

LGUs will regularly report water availability, agricultural conditions, fires and heat-related emergencies.

The province will preposition water tankers, mobile water storage, emergency supplies, generators and communication equipment for isolated and water-deficient communities.

Food production

The Provincial Agriculturist's Office and Provincial Veterinary Office will identify drought-vulnerable farms and livestock areas and coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and LGUs on climate-resilient crops and planting schedules.

The plan promotes drought-tolerant crops, soil moisture conservation, mulching and efficient irrigation. It also calls for agricultural insurance for eligible farmers and livestock raisers and contingency assistance such as seeds and animal feed.

Officials will monitor fisheries, aquaculture and inland water resources affected by declining water levels and higher temperatures.

Health and social protection

The Provincial Health Office will work with municipal health offices and the Department of Health to monitor dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses.

It will issue heat-health advisories, strengthen disease surveillance linked to water shortages and unsafe water, and ensure drinking water and water catchment facilities in health facilities.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office will maintain stocks of food, bottled water, relief supplies and ready-to-eat meals for affected families.

It will also coordinate emergency water distribution with LGUs.

Water, fire, and tourism

The Provincial General Services Office will identify water-deficient barangays and establish priority areas for water augmentation.

It will prepare water distribution schedules and coordinate with water districts and private utilities to maintain supply.

The Provincial Engineering Office will inventory springs, wells, reservoirs and other water sources and prepare plans for emergency deep wells, retention ponds, communal water tanks and other facilities.

Environmental officials will map fire-prone grasslands, forests and watersheds and coordinate with LGUs on fire prevention and rapid reporting.

The plan also calls for public campaigns against indiscriminate burning.

The Provincial Tourism Office will assess tourism sites for risks from drought, water shortages, heat and wildfires. It will coordinate with establishments on alternative water sources and promote rainwater harvesting, storage tanks and water-efficient facilities.

Four-phase implementation

The province will implement the plan through four phases: preparedness and risk assessment; anticipatory mitigation; emergency response and sustained operations; and recovery and rehabilitation.

The first phase will cover risk assessment, water inventories, resource mapping, contingency planning and equipment procurement. The second will focus on water and energy conservation, agricultural adjustments, heat protection and resource prepositioning.

During severe impacts, the third phase will provide water distribution, emergency health interventions, livelihood assistance, fire suppression and continuity measures for essential services. The final phase will restore water sources, support agricultural recovery, rehabilitate infrastructure and evaluate the response.

The plan also establishes four operational alert levels aligned with PAGASA advisories and local conditions.

Green will cover routine monitoring and preparedness.

Yellow will trigger intensified monitoring, water conservation and equipment prepositioning as risks increase.

Orange will allow the province to deploy water tankers and other resources to priority areas while intensifying health, fire and agricultural monitoring.

Red will cover severe impacts requiring sustained water augmentation, emergency assistance and mobilization of provincial resources.

Priority resources for procurement or augmentation include water tankers, portable water treatment machines, water quality testing kits, backup generators, solar power systems, medical supplies, oral rehydration products, livestock feed, agricultural inputs and emergency food stocks.

The plan will use legally authorized funds from the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, General Fund and available national government assistance, subject to existing rules and requirements.

'Very strong'

The weather state bureau said a “Strong El Niño” is currently active in the tropical Pacific and is expected to intensify into a Very Strong El Niño between September and December 2026, with the phenomenon likely to persist through the first half of 2027.

Authorities warned that El Niño generally increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, dry spells and drought in parts of the country, raising risks to water resources, agriculture, energy, public health and other climate-sensitive sectors.(MyTVCebu)