Super El Niño and other horrors

It is Halloween as I write this and the usual party-goers have shown up in their spookiest best.

But as we all know, here in this nation of 117 million, real life is even scarier than any horror movie or Halloween character.

The problems we face are chilling enough and one such unfolding horror story is the Super El Niño.

I’m anxious just thinking how bad it will be when we experience the worst.

The warnings have come. The creeks are drying up and soil moisture has been declining. These are clearly connected warnings of El Niño’s growing pressure on water supply, farms and livelihoods.

Agricultural land will be drastically affected by the scorching heat and with the soil drying up, there will be fewer crops to plant and harvest, and less food on our tables.

What to do then?

We must recognize these signs early and act on them. This way, authorities can help communities prepare before conditions worsen.

The real measure of preparedness is how that window is used.

Early warning

I recently read in the news that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is utilizing technology to anticipate environmental threats.

Props to the agency for turning to data and science to develop a better response to El Niño.

For instance, the DENR said it has operationalized an early warning framework by deploying automated weather stations, satellite heat stress mapping and Geographic Information System-based risk modeling (Philippine News Agency, Oct. 31).

This sounds geeky but Environment Secretary Juan Miguel “Mitch” Cuna said that to put it simply, these tools help translate environmental data into field alerts that can guide authorities on the ground.

This then enables stakeholders to undertake early intervention, equipping field teams and local officials to act before severe damage occurs.

According to the PNA report, the DENR’s regional offices have put these efforts into practice.

In Central Luzon, DENR Region 3 issued coral bleaching alert updates in May, June and July 2026, drawing on satellite-derived sea surface temperature heat stress analysis from DOST-PAGASA and the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

After marine waters off Aurora reached Coral Bleaching Alert Level 1, provincial environment offices in Aurora, Bataan and Zambales were directed to monitor reefs and report bleaching incidents through the Philippine Coral Reef Bleaching Report Portal, the DENR also said.

In the north, particularly in the Ilocos Region, an integrated Red Flag Alert System connects the DENR with DOST-PAGASA and local disaster risk reduction and management offices.

Ten strategically located ranger stations equipped with lookout towers support early detection of wild land fires.

At the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Caraga, the Protected Area Management Office uses weather station data to track local heat indices, rainfall deficits and water level changes. These observations support detailed peatland fire risk maps and targeted patrols in vulnerable areas, the DENR also said.

In Catanduanes and Masbate, the DENR offices monitor weather stations daily and map signs of environmental stress. They watch out for dry forest patches and drying creeks to support local drought advisories and water conservation measures.

Protecting resources

Alongside early warning and early intervention, the DENR is also strengthening the natural systems that sustain farming through dry periods.

Measures include bamboo growing, soil conservation structures and water impounding systems, the DENR said.

These complement the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to sustain production and address farmers’ immediate needs.

In Capas, Tarlac, the DENR said its provincial office is promoting water-efficient nursery operations, including drip irrigation and improved seedling propagation. It is also developing an ecotourism park with extensive bamboo plantations and specialized nursery facilities.

Moving forward, the DENR said it also plans to expand agroforestry demonstration sites in major river basins, incorporating drought-tolerant native trees and bamboo.

These efforts, for sure, put El Niño preparedness into practice.

Hopefully, by detecting threats early, authorities can better direct action where it is needed and protect, preserve and conserve the soil and water that our country depends on.

A P10-billion investment

Last week, I also had the chance to visit the La Mesa facilities of Maynilad to see how they are preparing for El Niño.

During a briefing there, I learned that the West Zone concessionaire has undertaken nearly P10 billion worth of rehabilitation and improvement works at its facilities over several years for water system resilience efforts.

The major rehabilitation and improvement works cover treatment improvements, enhanced water recovery and raw water augmentation systems, additional raw water storage and related facility upgrades.

“These improvements give us additional operating flexibility as raw water conditions change and support our continuing preparations for potentially drier conditions associated with El Niño,” Maynilad COO Christopher Jaime Lichauco said.

Maynilad vice president and head of water supply operations Ronaldo Padua likewise held an extensive briefing on the La Mesa facilities.

After that I walked up to him because I just wanted to ask if water firms like Maynilad would call for a temporary halt to car wash activities.

Instead, he said households can do their part by being very conscious about water usage, car wash activities included.

For sure, every drop counts in this looming dry season. Hopefully, we survive this and other horrors that may come with the Super El Niño – high electricity prices, heat stroke, fire risks and much more.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.