OCD readies El Niño response plan
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported Saturday that the government is preparing to implement its El Niño Action Plan following a meeting among government agencies in response to a projected Very Strong El Niño in late 2026 and the first half of 2027.
“Our different cluster agencies immediately met to implement our El Niño Action Plan, together with our contingency [measures],” OCD spokesperson Vicente Tomas said during the Saturday News Forum.
“This concerns energy, health, agriculture, and especially communities affected by the Very Strong El Niño phenomenon,” added Tomas, who is also director of the OCD’s Disaster Preparedness Service.
Tomas said response cluster agencies are focusing on several sectors, including public health. The Department of Health (DoH) has issued advisories on measures the public should take to avoid prolonged exposure to extreme heat, which could cause dehydration.
“This also includes our livestock and the health of our farmers and fisherfolk. The Department of Agriculture has also promptly provided assistance in the form of resilient seeds and crops,” he said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has also provided assistance through conditional cash transfers and the distribution of food and non-food items. “They also have atmospheric water systems that can be used to produce potable water for our families,” Tomas said.
As of 26 September 2026, El Niño had caused P6.87 billion in agricultural damage, affecting 223,214 farmers and fisherfolk.
Tomas said the DSWD, OCD, other response cluster agencies and local government units had provided P76.4 million worth of assistance, particularly in Region 2, Region 5, Caraga and Calabarzon, as well as other areas monitored by the OCD’s regional offices.
The OCD urged the public to remain calm and take precautions against the anticipated effects of a Very Strong El Niño.
“As one of the most important things we need to understand, we can face the effects of El Niño. We should not be afraid. We should remain calm,” Tomas said.
Response cluster agencies under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, including the DoH, Department of Energy and DSWD, are encouraging the public to conserve, recycle and store water.
The OCD has also inventoried available response resources, including water tankers, desalination systems, cloud-seeding equipment and filtration units and devices distributed to local government units.