ILOILO — This province is drawing up a province-wide contingency plan against a forecast “super strong” El Niño that could persist until the first quarter of 2027, with the provincial capitol preparing for possible water shortages, crop losses, heat-related illnesses, increased power demand and even conflicts over dwindling water supplies.
The provincial government will convene its Task Force El Niño this Tuesday, Oct. 6, to consolidate measures across critical sectors as prolonged dry and hot conditions are expected to extend through the summer of 2027.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. wants each sector represented in the task force to develop comprehensive interventions before the effects of El Niño intensify.
The meeting will bring together the task force’s water security, health security, food security, energy security and public safety sectors.
Under health security, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), municipal health offices and the Department of Health (DOH) are expected to strengthen preparations for illnesses associated with extreme heat.
The governor particularly wants health authorities to issue advisories on preventing heat-related illnesses and ensure that medical facilities are prepared to treat affected residents.
“Kinahanglan ang mga concerned agencies should come up with health advisories para malikawan naton heat-related illnesses. Tapos kon matabo gid man ina sia, ano ang level of preparation nila, ano required nga medical intervention,” PDRRMO chief Cornelio Salinas said.
With hotter conditions anticipated, the province will also implement Defensor’s executive order limiting outdoor activities during periods of dangerous heat.
FARMERS FACE PLANTING DECISIONS
Food security will be another major concern, with agricultural authorities tasked to provide farmers technical guidance on what crops can still be planted if rainfall becomes abnormally low during the fourth quarter.
“Kun abnormal na ang pagtupa sang ulan come this fourth quarter, matanum pa bala ang mga pumoluyo? So, ang pagahimuon, stop planting ka for those crops nga naga-require sang water kag magkadto sa water-resilient crops nga mabuhi bisan kulang ang tubig,” Salinas said.
Measures will also be prepared to protect livestock from extreme heat.
For water security, the task force will develop conservation measures and conduct an inventory of deep wells and water impounding facilities to determine available supplies for households and farms.
The energy sector, meanwhile, will assess the province’s readiness for an anticipated increase in electricity demand as temperatures rise.
Officials will study whether additional generator sets may be needed and explore solar power and other renewable-energy sources as alternative or supplemental supplies.
WATER CONFLICTS EYED
Beyond the effects on farms and households, the provincial government is also preparing for possible peace and order problems should prolonged dry conditions cause serious water shortages.
Among the scenarios being considered is competition or conflict among residents and farmers over access to water from irrigation systems.
The public safety sector will be tasked to anticipate such situations and formulate measures to prevent disputes from escalating.
The province’s preparations come as prolonged dry conditions threaten to simultaneously strain Iloilo’s water supply, agricultural production, health services and power system — making coordinated intervention across government agencies critical before the worst effects of El Niño are felt./PN
