The Negros Occidental provincial government is preparing for a “super, super El Niño”, the height of which is expected to be felt starting October to hopefully only the first quarter of 2027, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday, Sept. 10.
“Hopefully it will not go beyond the first quarter”, said Lacson, who presided over the 3rd quarter Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting at the Negros Occidental Capitol in Bacolod City.
The entire province of Negros Occidental is forecast to be affected by El Niño, he said, adding that they received a report that Hinigaran is already feeling its effects of the dry spell that is subject to verification.
But for this month we are still expecting some rain, Lacson said.
The province still has an adequate Quick Response Fund (QRF) for 2026 that can be used. Lacson said of the P110.5 million QRF, there is still P109 million left.
“I called for a meeting to discuss what we can do to prepare, especially that October is just around the corner,” he said.
They discussed the utilization of the P109 million before 2026 ends, the governor said.
Meanwhile, the PDRRM fund for 2027 will be P411 million, he said.
Lacson said 70 percent of the amount, or P287.7 million, is set for programs, projects, and activities.
The P123.3 million is for the Quick Response Fund, or 30 percent of the PDRRM Fund, he said.*
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