El Niño preparedness ramped up

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7 (DSWD-7) are ramping up preparedness measures against the anticipated impact of a very strong El Niño, focusing on ensuring continuous power supply, ready relief assistance, and household resilience.

The DOE is requiring hospitals, rural health units, emergency medical services, water supply facilities, and DSWD food hubs to establish backup power systems capable of sustaining operations for at least 72 hours without electricity from the grid.

Under DOE Department Circular No. DC2026-0114, covered facilities must also prepare or update their Public Service Continuity Plans or Business Continuity Plans to incorporate energy resilience measures, particularly in high-risk and off-grid areas.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said in a statement that the initiative aims to ensure that essential services, particularly hospitals and water supply facilities, remain operational despite possible power disruptions during El Niño.

Meanwhile, DSWD-7 is strengthening disaster preparedness by prepositioning food and non-food items (FNFIs) across Central Visayas and coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in Cebu and Bohol to ensure relief supplies are readily available when needed.

DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Jiah L. Sayson emphasized the importance of preparedness and coordination in ensuring timely assistance to communities affected by prolonged dry conditions.

The agency is also implementing Operation SUSI to monitor prepositioned relief supplies and ensure their quality and readiness for distribution during emergencies.

Beyond relief operations, DSWD-7 is implementing programs such as Project LAWA at BINHI, the Sustainable Livelihood Program, and Family Development Sessions under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to help vulnerable families strengthen food security and livelihoods through sustainable income opportunities and backyard gardening.

On the energy front, the DOE is fast-tracking 200 power projects under Task Force 200 to augment electricity generation capacity ahead of the dry season.

As of October 26, 55 projects, including battery energy storage systems, had been completed, providing a combined capacity of about 2,365 megawatts.

Another 28 projects are targeted for completion by the end of the year.

The DOE is also encouraging households and businesses to practice energy conservation by using energy-efficient appliances, setting air conditioners at around 24 degrees Celsius, switching off unnecessary lights, and unplugging unused appliances.

Both departments are urging the public and local communities to take proactive measures, including conserving water and electricity, protecting food resources, and preparing for the possible effects of prolonged dry conditions. (CEBU NEWS)