CAPIZ – The provincial government has created a task force to strengthen preparations against the potential impacts of a looming Super El Niño on agriculture, water resources, public health, and local livelihoods.
Capiz Gov. Fredenil H. Castro convened key government agencies for the first Capiz Provincial El Niño Task Force Coordination Meeting at the Provincial Capitol’s Hall of Governors.
The meeting formally set in motion Executive Order No. 31, Series of 2026, which established the Capiz Provincial El Niño Task Force.
Castro, who chairs the task force, emphasized the need for a coordinated and unified response to ensure that government interventions are implemented promptly and efficiently.
He directed participating national government agencies, local chief executives, and technical working groups to submit their respective action plans and comprehensive lists of emergency assistance services.
The governor stressed that each agency must have a clear course of action and be prepared to extend immediate assistance to communities once water supplies decline or agricultural production is threatened.
To strengthen monitoring and coordination across the province’s 16 municipalities, the provincial government is also establishing a centralized El Niño Command Center.
The facility will serve as the operational hub for receiving real-time field reports, updates from municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices, and concerns raised by residents.
It will also coordinate emergency water distribution, agricultural subsidies, and medical assistance for communities affected by water shortages.
The task force will work closely with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to assess climate advisories and adjust response strategies based on prevailing weather conditions.
Through coordinated planning and timely interventions, the provincial government aims to protect farmers, fisherfolk, and households from the potential economic and social consequences of prolonged dry conditions./PN