Capiz creates El Niño task force, sets 15-day deadline for action plan

ILOILO CITY — Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro has ordered the creation of a provincial El Niño Task Force and given it 15 days to prepare an action plan to address potential water shortages, agricultural losses and health risks caused by prolonged dry spells.

Under Executive Order No. 31, signed Oct. 21, 2026, the task force will coordinate preparedness and mitigation measures across Capiz’s 16 municipalities and Roxas City.

Castro will chair the task force, with the provincial administrator as vice chairperson and executive coordinator. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) will lead operations and serve as the secretariat.

Article continues after this advertisement

The order requires all 17 local government units to submit vulnerability assessments within 10 days, identifying communities, agricultural areas and critical facilities at risk of water scarcity and extreme heat.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

READ: El Niño could be ‘literally off the monitoring charts’ – UN

The task force must submit a comprehensive Provincial El Niño Action Plan by the 15th day, covering water availability, emergency distribution systems, agricultural vulnerabilities, public health safeguards, priority interventions and funding requirements.

Water security and agriculture are among the key priorities.

The Provincial Engineering Office and water districts will assess water infrastructure, monitor water supplies and prepare emergency distribution measures.

Article continues after this advertisement

Agriculture officials, working with national agencies, will assess crop damage, distribute drought-tolerant seeds, adjust planting schedules and protect food reserves. Veterinary personnel will monitor livestock for heat stress and water shortages.

Health authorities will strengthen surveillance of heat-related illnesses and waterborne diseases, while social welfare officials will prepare relief assistance and emergency water rations for vulnerable households.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Department of Education will coordinate classroom safety measures and possible adjustments to learning arrangements during extreme heat advisories.

The task force will operate through five clusters covering operations and planning; water security and infrastructure; agriculture and livelihoods; public health and social protection; and finance, logistics and legal concerns.

The order also sets a three-day deadline for provincial offices to designate focal persons and a five-day deadline for the task force’s initial meeting.

Meetings will be held twice monthly during the preparedness phase and weekly during severe dry spells, or as directed by Castro.

The PDRRMO must submit situation reports twice a month, while the task force will provide the governor with monthly reports on its accomplishments.

Funding will come from available provincial appropriations, including the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund and Quick Response Fund, subject to existing budgeting and auditing rules.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

The order cited the threat posed by reduced rainfall, rising temperatures and water scarcity to the province’s agriculture, food security, public health and essential services. /das