The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod has approved a resolution directing all key city departments and offices to immediately prepare and submit their respective El Niño Preparedness, Response, and Mitigation Plans to the Office of the City Mayor and the SP, Councilor Caesar Distrito said Tuesday, July 7.
The resolution, authored by authored by Distrito and Councilor Pao Sy, requires the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (BCDRRMO), City Agriculture Office, City Health Office, City Engineer’s Office, Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), City Veterinary Office, Department of Education–Bacolod City Division, BACIWA-PrimeWater, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), General Services Office, and other concerned agencies to submit comprehensive preparedness plans within 30 days from receipt of the resolution.
The measure was prompted by the advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that El Niño conditions are already present in the tropical Pacific and may persist through early 2027, bringing prolonged dry spells, water shortages, reduced agricultural productivity, heat-related illnesses, and increased risks of grassfires and other climate-related hazards.
Under the approved resolution, each agency is directed to identify potential risks within its area of responsibility and formulate corresponding contingency measures, including emergency response protocols, water conservation initiatives, food security and agricultural protection programs, public health interventions, fire prevention strategies, public information campaigns, and the resources and budgetary requirements necessary to effectively respond to the anticipated impacts of El Niño, Distrito said.
“Preparedness is always more effective and less costly than emergency response. This resolution ensures that every concerned office plans ahead, identifies its resource requirements, and coordinates with other agencies so that Bacolod can better protect our people, our water supply, our food security, and essential public services before the worst effects of El Niño occur,” he added.
“El Niño affects almost every sector, from agriculture and water supply to health, education, and public safety. By requiring every concerned office to prepare its own action plan, we are promoting coordination, accountability, and resilience so that the City Government can respond more efficiently and protect the welfare of every Bacolodnon,” Sy said.
The resolution likewise encourages agencies to identify existing resources, projected needs, and recommendations for legislative, policy, or budgetary support to further strengthen Bacolod City’s climate resilience and disaster preparedness efforts.
The authors said the measure complements the City’s disaster risk reduction initiatives and supports the implementation of the Bacolod Food Plan by ensuring that food security, sustainable agriculture, and public welfare remain protected amid the anticipated effects of El Niño.*
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