ILOILO City – Western Visayas is now in full gear for the looming La Niña phenomenon, with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) intensifying preparations amid forecasts of above-normal rainfall and possible widespread flooding starting December.
La Niña is a climate pattern marked by the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which typically leads to heavier-than-usual rainfall, stronger monsoons, and an increased risk of flooding in the Philippines.
OCD regional director and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) chair Raul Fernandez said the region cannot afford complacency, citing how recent storms already displaced more than 350,000 individuals across five provinces.
“While this season’s La Niña is expected to be mild, it is essential to recognize that global warming influences can still exacerbate weather patterns. We should anticipate above-normal rainfall, which could lead to flooding in vulnerable areas,” Fernandez told Panay News in an interview.
He warned that even a “mild” La Niña could worsen localized flooding in low-lying areas due to the region’s saturated soil and compromised drainage systems.
“We will be expecting that in December this year, makaka-experience tayo ng above normal rainfall,” he added.
FULL READINESS DRIVE
Fernandez said OCD Region 6 has been conducting rounds of inspections and readiness checks across local government units (LGUs) to ensure adequate planning, equipment, and manpower before the rains come.
“When it comes to planning, we are ready for that. Ang ating mga LGUs, most of them are trained sa mga flooding and they have also equipment. Meron na tayong mga equipment like boats, they are already trained and water search and rescue… so mostly ‘yung ating mga responders, they are trained to conduct any rescue operations,” he stressed.
OCD has prepositioned essential assets, including rescue boats and water rescue gear, and continues to conduct training on swift water rescue operations for municipal and barangay responders.
COMMUNITY-BASED PREPAREDNESS
Beyond LGUs, Fernandez underscored the need for grassroots readiness.
“Although some LGUs have successfully trained their barangay disaster risk reduction committees, we must ensure that all barangays are equipped to respond to flooding effectively,” he said.
The OCD’s community-based preparedness framework includes training of trainers, strengthening barangay disaster structures, and clarifying emergency response roles to ensure smooth coordination.
He also reminded LGUs to allocate sufficient portions of their disaster funds ahead of the rainy season.
“We have already issued advisories to local officials, reminding them of the yearly forecast. They must allocate sufficient budgets to anticipate and mitigate the effects of potential flooding,” he noted.
RECENT LESSONS
The warning comes as the region continues to recover from a string of storms that have already displaced around 354,906 individuals from 98,098 families, based on OCD data as of September 27.
The breakdown per province:
* Aklan – 13,289 families (49,750 individuals) in 173 barangays
* Antique – 33,938 families (114,748 individuals) in 327 barangays
* Capiz – 15,854 families (58,277 individuals) in 230 barangays
* Iloilo – 27,203 families (97,515 individuals) in 466 barangays
* Guimaras – 7,814 families (34,616 individuals) in 88 barangays
One fatality was recorded in Iloilo, while 5,593 families (18,668 individuals) took shelter in 407 evacuation centers. Another 14,567 families (55,816 individuals) received assistance outside these facilities.
Iloilo posted the highest number of evacuees outside centers, with 10,251 families (39,701 individuals).
THE CALL FOR VIGILANCE
As Western Visayas braces for La Niña’s full onset, OCD-6 continues to strengthen coordination with local disaster councils and frontline responders to ensure quick, unified action once heavy rains hit.
Residents are urged to stay alert, secure emergency supplies, and prepare evacuation plans early.
“Preparedness should not begin when the floodwaters rise,” Fernandez said. “It starts today — with awareness, cooperation, and readiness at every level.”/PN
