A LAWMAKER has proposed a dedicated task force to address the potential impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on the city’s agriculture and water resources.
Councilor Ralph Abella, 21st City Council committee chair on agriculture, is calling on the local government to convene an agricultural task force to start El Niño mitigation and response planning.
During the Pulong-pulong sa Dabawenyos on Tuesday, Abella cited the need for a task force as the phenomenon could intensify into a “very strong” event.
“Naa ko’y giandam nga resolution addressed to the City Mayor, through the City Planning Office, to create a Task Force El Niño para magplano,” Abella said.
Task Force El Niño, to be led by the City Planning and Development Office and the City Agriculturist’s Office, will formulate strategies to safeguard food security and water availability across the city.
The resolution cites the Sept. 23 climate advisory of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA).
The advisory says a strong El Niño is already active in the Tropical Pacific, which is expected to intensify into “very strong” during the September-December 2026 season, and will persist through the first half of 2027.
PAGASA warned that prolonged rainfall deficits could bring severe agricultural dry spells and water supply stress, threatening food security, water resources, energy production, public health and the economy.
It added that the Southwest Monsoon and tropical cyclones may still bring localized heavy rain, particularly in western parts of the country.
Abella said these risks threaten farmers’ livelihoods and the city’s agricultural production.
Under the proposal, CAGRO would work with city offices, barangays, farmer and fisher representatives, and technical agencies to assess local risks.
Abella said plans will be based on PAGASA advisories, localized climate information and field assessments.
The plans would set priorities, an implementation timetable, office responsibilities, resource requirements and monitoring arrangements, and would be reviewed as forecasts and conditions change.
Abella cited Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) data, which forecast that Davao City as a whole will not be uniformly affected by El Niño.
He said that while District 3 remains relatively secure due to its abundant water sources and forest cover, District 2, particularly Paquibato District, is identified as more vulnerable owing to its proximity to Davao del Norte and its diminished forest cover.
The lawmaker noted that current weather patterns characterized by hot mornings followed by evening rains pose a threat to local agriculture, as fluctuating conditions cause flowering fruit trees to shed blossoms before producing fruit.
To build local resilience, the proposed task force will focus on seven key action areas: Local agricultural risk assessment; Water availability and conservation; Crop production and farmer support; Livestock and fisheries preparedness; Advisories and community coordination; Resources and implementation; and Monitoring and review.
Key offices slated for inclusion in the task force include PAGASA, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the City Agriculturist’s Office, the City Veterinarian’s Office, and bulk water supplier Apo Agua.
The task force is eyed to tap identified unutilized freshwater sources in Paquibato and establish distribution systems for surrounding agricultural communities.
Abella said the funding allocations for the El Niño response will be finalized following assessments to be conducted by the task force once convened.
