Eastern Visayas Activates Task Force El Niño Amid Drought Concerns

TACLOBAN CITY — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Eastern Visayas has activated Task Force El Niño as government agencies intensify preparations for a projected dry spell expected to affect the country from August this year until January 2027, an official said. The task force, organized under the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), is part of the national government’s efforts to mitigate the expected impacts of El Niño on food production, water supply, public health, energy, and the environment. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier directed government agencies to strengthen drought mitigation measures amid forecasts of a possible prolonged and intense El Niño episode. READ: Not only drought but floods: What to expect from severe El Niño? In response, agencies have begun implementing sector-specific interventions, including the Department of Agriculture’s evaluation and promotion of drought-resistant crop varieties and climate-resilient farming technologies to help safeguard food security. During a media forum, OCD Eastern Visayas Operations Section Chief Sher Rysiah Saises said the activation of the task force reflects the region’s commitment to a proactive and coordinated approach to preparing for the weather phenomenon. “Early planning and coordination are essential to reduce the adverse impacts of El Niño on our communities. Through Task Force El Niño, we can synchronize interventions, share resources, and ensure that government services reach the most vulnerable sectors promptly,” Saises said. READ: In Asia, PH ‘most vulnerable’ to severe El Niño–ANZ study According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), current sea surface temperature conditions are likely to develop into a strong El Niño event between August and October 2026, with the phenomenon expected to persist until early 2027. The weather phenomenon could bring below-normal rainfall to many parts of the country, increasing the risk of drought, water shortages, crop losses, heat-related illnesses, and reduced hydroelectric power generation. Saises said the RDRRMC has begun coordinating with member agencies and local government units to ensure preparedness measures are in place before the onset of the dry spell. Among the priority interventions identified during the council’s June meeting are water conservation programs, agricultural support, contingency planning, public health preparedness, and intensified information and education campaigns. The task force will also regularly monitor weather conditions and coordinate response measures in areas vulnerable to drought, declining water supply, crop damage, and extreme heat. Local government units, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), have likewise been urged to reactivate their local disaster risk reduction and management councils and prepare contingency plans based on the projected impacts of El Niño. In the region, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar are among the provinces that have already drawn up plans to mitigate the impacts of the weather phenomenon. Saises said the RDRRMC is also finalizing a Regional El Niño Action Plan outlining interventions in five priority sectors: water supply, agriculture, electricity, health, and public safety. The plan also includes a comprehensive risk communication strategy to be implemented with the support of the Philippine Information Agency to ensure communities receive timely and accurate information before and during the dry spell. The OCD in Eastern Visayas also urged residents to conserve water, observe health precautions during periods of extreme heat, and monitor official weather advisories issued by Pagasa and disaster management authorities. The activation of Task Force El Niño is part of the government’s continuing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and reduce the potential impacts of what could be one of the strongest El Niño events in recent years. /mcm