CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has urged the public to remain vigilant against multiple climate-related hazards, emphasizing that El Niño is not limited to causing drought and may also coincide with periods of intense rainfall brought by other weather systems.
During a media forum for the observance of the 2026 National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM), OCD Regional Office III clarified common misconceptions about El Niño following questions from the media on why parts of the country continue to experience heavy rains despite the prevailing climate phenomenon.
OCD III Officer-in-Charge Shelby Ruiz explained that while El Niño is generally associated with below-normal rainfall and prolonged dry conditions, it does not prevent the occurrence of heavy rains, flooding, and tropical cyclones.
“Kapag El Niño, huwag nating isipin na tagtuyot lang ang problema. May mga pagkakataon pa ring makakaranas tayo ng malalakas na pag-ulan. Kaya dapat handa tayo sa iba’t ibang panganib,” Ruiz said.
She noted that weather systems such as the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones may still enhance rainfall, resulting in flooding and rain-induced hazards even during an El Niño episode.
Ruiz said communities should learn from previous disasters and avoid complacency, stressing that understanding climate patterns and acting on early warnings are critical in reducing disaster risks.
“We have to look back on what happened because if we prepare well, we can reduce the impacts. But if we neglect the lessons from previous disasters, we will also be affected,” she said.
To support local governments, OCD continuously disseminates weather advisories, hazard bulletins, and risk information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) through official communication channels, including email and online messaging platforms.
The agency also shares the weekly hazard scenarios prepared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), enabling local disaster risk reduction and management offices to anticipate potential hazards and undertake early preparedness measures.
Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) underscored the importance of science-based information in helping communities understand evolving climate risks and make informed decisions before disasters occur.
As vice chairperson of the Prevention and Mitigation Pillar of the RDRRMC, DOST provides weather forecasts, climate outlooks, flood forecasts, hazard maps, earthquake monitoring, and other scientific services that support local planning and disaster preparedness.
The agency is also promoting wider adoption of these technologies through its Handa Pilipinas program and the ongoing Technology Needs Assessment, which helps local government units identify science and technology interventions needed to strengthen disaster resilience.
DOST emphasized that making scientific information accessible to communities is key to building long-term resilience.
“Preparedness starts with being informed. Science is most effective when it is understood, trusted, and used by communities,” the agency said.
As climate patterns continue to become more variable, government agencies called on the public to remain informed, monitor official advisories, and participate in preparedness activities, stressing that resilience begins with understanding risks and taking proactive measures before disasters strike.
The agencies reiterated that disaster resilience is a shared responsibility, requiring sustained collaboration among government, local communities, the private sector, and the media to build a safer and more climate-resilient Bagong Pilipinas. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
