Iloilo’s provincial government is crafting a multisectoral action plan to prepare for the expected severe effects of super El Niño, with officials warning that the phenomenon could affect the province through the first half of 2027.

The provincial Task Force El Niño convened on Tuesday to strengthen preparedness and mitigation measures for possible impacts on agriculture, water supply, health, energy, and public safety.

Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said the province needs to prepare, not only for the immediate effects of El Niño but also for its longer-term impacts.

“This phenomenon will not just happen this year; this will be a recurring phenomenon that we have to confront with. Meaning, we should not only have this short-term action plan, but how we can adapt and become resilient,” Banias said.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Cornelio Salinas presented the task force’s structure and responsibilities. The group was created through Executive Order 67, issued by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

The task force has five sectors: food security, water security, energy security, health security, and public safety. Each sector will develop measures to be integrated into the province’s El Niño action plan.

The food security sector will focus on maintaining food supplies, reducing crop damage, and minimizing losses among farmers and fisherfolk. The water security sector will work to ensure adequate supplies for households, health facilities, and agricultural areas.

The energy sector will develop measures to mitigate power outages and protect utilities, while the health sector will strengthen health services in case of disease outbreaks and address heat-related illnesses.

The public safety sector will focus on minimizing El Niño-related incidents and maintaining peace and order.

“The governor would like to see what we can provide outright to our people in the province. These different sectors will help address it,” Salinas said in a media interview.

He said the provincial government has PHP82 million in quick response fund and other resources that could be used if a state of calamity is declared.

Banias said the province is also addressing the impact of the red-striped soft scale insect infestation on the agriculture sector.

Passi City and the towns of Dueñas and San Enrique have declared states of calamity because of the infestation, while Anilao is expected to follow.

“As far as the number of towns needed for the declaration of the provincial-wide state of calamity has been complied with already. More than 10,000 hectares of sugarcane plantation were severely damaged by this RSSI,” Banias said. (PNA)