Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang announced Tuesday that an executive order establishing an El Niño Task Force will be issued soon to oversee the province’s preparations and response.

In a press briefing, Dayanghirang said he has convened municipal mayors and advised them to use their respective calamity funds to mitigate the effects of the looming strong El Niño.

“Our budget is almost exhausted since the year is almost done. That’s why I advised the mayors to utilize their calamity fund,” he said.

Dayanghirang also disclosed that the geo-resistivity equipment ordered by the province will arrive on Sept. 14. The machine will be deployed to barangays and municipalities to address water shortages.

“It will detect underground water sufficiency so our investments don’t go to waste,” he added.

The technology, which uses subsurface electrical resistance to locate underground water-bearing zones or aquifers before drilling, will be paired with a five-day training for local personnel.

“We keep installing pipes only to find out there’s no water underneath. With this machine, our time and money won’t go to waste,” he said.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), most parts of the country are likely to experience way below normal rainfall due to a very strong El Niño expected toward yearend.

A moderate to strong El Niño is currently present in the Tropical Pacific and is forecast to continue until the first half of 2027, possibly reaching a very strong state before the end of 2026.

For September, below-normal rainfall will prevail over most of Northern Luzon, while near-normal rainfall is expected in the rest of the country.

By October, below-normal conditions are likely across Luzon, the Visayas, and Caraga, with near-normal rainfall in the rest of Mindanao. (PNA)