Quezon activates task force as El Niño threatens farms, water supply

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — The Quezon provincial government has activated its El Niño Task Force and stepped up preparations to mitigate the potential effects of prolonged dry conditions and extreme heat on agriculture, public health and community safety.

“Our El Niño Task Force is now activated. We have already identified the measures we will undertake because we recognize that this could be an extreme event. Our planning and the interventions we provide will be commensurate with the severity of El Niño,” Provincial Agriculturist Ana Clarissa Mariano said in Filipino during a special episode of “Kapitolyo Podcast” on Oct. 20.

The program was hosted by Jun Lubid, Quezon provincial information officer.

Mariano was joined by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Melchor Avenilla Jr. and Junil Nicolas Rejano I, head of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Unit (DRRMHU) of the Provincial Health Office.

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

The officials discussed preparations their respective offices are undertaking to address the potential effects of El Niño.

These include mapping agricultural areas to identify communities and farmers most in need of assistance, implementing health programs to prevent illnesses associated with extreme heat and drought, and strengthening community preparedness for potential disasters.

“We cannot control the effects of El Niño. However, we can help one another. Simple acts such as offering someone water, encouraging them to rest, and identifying symptoms early can make a big difference in saving lives,” Rejano said.

Avenilla, meanwhile, urged households to manage their water resources responsibly.

“We should train our families to use our available water resources properly and efficiently,” he said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has warned that El Niño could bring prolonged dry conditions, reduced water availability and extreme heat to parts of the country.

The weather bureau’s forecast indicates that the climate phenomenon could intensify toward the end of the year and persist through the first half of 2027.

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Meanwhile, as the province prepares for the effects of El Niño, the Quezon Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) has begun conducting training sessions on integrated soil and nutrient management, according to a report by the Provincial Information Office (PIO).

On Oct. 15, 30 farmers from Barangay Poctol in Unisan participated in a training session that highlighted the importance of proper soil and nutrient management in maintaining crop yields and protecting farmers’ livelihoods.

Following the training, the OPA distributed 200 packs of Bio N, a biological inoculant that improves soil health, enhances nutrient absorption by plants and reduces the need for fertilizer in rice production while helping maintain crop productivity.

“These inputs are particularly important in helping farmers cope with the climate-related challenges posed by El Niño,” the PIO said.

The training aims to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills to determine the appropriate type and amount of fertilizer needed at each stage of rice cultivation, as well as the correct application methods, especially when water supplies are limited.

“The program aims to strengthen farmers’ technological capabilities and deepen their understanding of the vital role of soil health and proper nutrient management in sustaining rice production, particularly amid the challenges posed by climate change and El Niño,” the report said. /das