Capiz El Niño task force meets as drought risk grows

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Capiz provincial government convened the Provincial El Niño Task Force on Thursday morning, Nov. 5, to coordinate preparations and strengthen measures against the potential effects of a very strong El Niño expected to bring prolonged dry spells and drought conditions.

Led by Gov. Fredenil “Oto” Castro, together with key national and local government agencies, the meeting was held at the Governor’s Hall of the Provincial Capitol and attended by municipal mayors and their representatives, led by Maayon Mayor and concurrent League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Capiz Chapter President Raymond Malapajo.

With forecasts pointing to a very strong El Niño, the task force is establishing proactive preventive measures and developing a unified multi-agency strategy to mitigate its potential impact.

“Our primary focus is securing local water reserves, supporting our agricultural sector, and reinforcing public health and disaster management systems across the province”, Castro said.

Through coordinated planning and strategic resource deployment, the provincial government is taking steps to strengthen its preparedness against the prolonged dry spell, the governor added.

Malapajo, meanwhile, expressed hope that under Castro’s leadership, the province would achieve full preparedness to ensure that no Capiznon is left behind during the climate crisis.

He stressed that local government units across the province fully support the task force’s proactive preventive measures.

The task force was created under Executive Order No. 31, Series of 2026, issued by Castro on Oct. 21, to coordinate provincial efforts to protect water supplies, agricultural livelihoods, public health and essential services.

Under the executive order, the task force is required to formulate a Provincial El Niño Action Plan within 15 calendar days of the order’s effectivity.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed on Nov. 4 that a very strong El Niño is already present in the tropical Pacific and is expected to persist until the first half of 2027, potentially reaching its peak before the end of 2026.

PAGASA warned that most parts of the country could experience below-normal to way-below-normal rainfall in November, increasing the risk of water shortages, agricultural losses and drought.

The state weather bureau urged government agencies and the public to prioritize water conservation and implement measures to minimize the potential effects of El Niño.