By Jay B. Laurino Officials from national agencies and local government units join a virtual coordination meeting led by the Office of Civil...
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| Officials from national agencies and local government units join a virtual coordination meeting led by the Office of Civil Defense CALABARZON on April 23, 2026 to review preparedness measures and contingency plans ahead of the expected El Niño conditions. (OCD CALABARZON) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon — National agencies and local governments in Calabarzon moved to tighten contingency plans as forecasts point to drier conditions in the coming months. Preparations focus on strengthening readiness for the expected El Niño phenomenon.
DOST-PAGASA placed the probability of El Niño forming between June and August 2026 at 79 percent, with forecasts showing it may persist into early 2027 and bring drier-than-normal conditions. Rainfall deficits may lead to dry spells and possible drought conditions, affecting water availability in vulnerable areas.
According to the Office of Civil Defense, coordination across sectors remains essential to ensure timely rollout of mitigation measures covering water, agriculture, energy, and public health. The agency said efforts include strengthening monitoring systems and aligning response actions across national and local levels.
OCD Regional Director Carlos Alvarez III directed agencies to review and update contingency plans and strengthen monitoring systems across sectors. Focus areas include water supply, agriculture, health, and energy.
“It is critical that we align our sectoral and local preparedness measures from water, resource management, agriculture, energy, and health to the community level intervention. So, the objective of this meeting is really to ensure that our plans are harmonized, our gaps are identified, and our response actions are coordinated timely.”
Agencies were instructed to carry out mitigation measures within their mandates and timelines. These include water conservation efforts, crop planning adjustments, public health advisories, and contingency updates.
“Please ensure early implementation of mitigation measures within your respective mandates. This includes water conservation, agriculture adjustments, public health advisories, and contingency planning.”
Discussions also included the possible reactivation of a regional El Niño response team to strengthen coordination and streamline response efforts. The proposal aims to improve inter-agency collaboration and ensure timely response across affected sectors.
The Office of Civil Defense also called for stronger monitoring, continuous information sharing, and timely submission of situation reports to support decision-making. The April 23 coordination meeting was held via virtual platform and presided over by Reyan Derrick Marquez.
Preparations are expected to continue as conditions shift in the coming months and dry spells begin to emerge. Efforts focus on safeguarding water supply, sustaining agricultural activity, and maintaining essential services, particularly in provinces such as Quezon where farming communities may be affected.
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