OCD monitoring Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Caraga as very strong El Niño looms

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The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Thursday it is closely monitoring three regions in Luzon and Mindanao amid the threat of the very strong El Niño in the last quarter of 2026.

The agency said effects have been recorded in Caraga, Calabarzon, and Cagayan Valley. In total, the number of affected persons has reached nearly 304,000, bulk of whom are in Caraga.

"[Sa Caraga region], based on the reports nasa 256,000 plus persons ang apektado. Sa Region 2 naman, there are 47,500 plus persons at sa Calabarzon, may na-report po na 191," said OCD spokesperson Vicente Gregorio Tomas in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(In the Caraga region, based on the reports, over 256,000 persons are affected. In Region 2, there are over 47,500 persons, and in Calabarzon, 191 have been reported.)

State weather bureau PAGASA said the El Niño phenomenon could last until March or even June.

About 40 provinces are expected to experience less rainfall. Once January 2027 comes, this number could surge to 80.

Other than the drier weather, temperatures are also expected to rise from the minimum of three degrees Celsius to 38.7 degrees Celsius.

"Katuwang natin ang mga local government units, nagkaroon na po ng response measures. Naka-alert na po sila. Pinaigting po 'yung monitoring sa mga areas na maapektuhan nitong very strong El Niño," said Tomas.

(In partnership with local government units, response measures are already in place. They are now on alert. Monitoring has been intensified in the areas that will be affected by this very strong El Niño.)

With the threat of prolonged drought, the OCD advised the public to save on water resources.

"Magtipid po tayo sa paggamit ng tubig... Kapag umulan, salukin po natin 'yung empty containers o mga used containers, basta malinis lang po at hindi stagnant water," said Tomas.

(Let us conserve water... When it rains, let us catch the rainwater in empty containers or used containers, as long as they are clean and not stagnant water.) — VDV, GMA News