Bohol is preparing for a longer, harsher dry season that could reach drought by March 2027 as a “very strong” El Niño continues to affect the country, the province’s top disaster official said.
Anthony Damalerio, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, urged local governments, sectors and residents to prepare now for the worsening El Niño.
He said the province must act early to avoid or reduce its effects.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s climate outlook for Central Visayas, released in September, projects below-normal rainfall in Bohol in October and November.
Dry conditions are expected in December, followed by a dry spell in January and February 2027.
Bohol is forecast to enter a drought stage in March, with hot, dry weather possibly lasting into the early part of the year.
Neighboring Cebu faces a similar trajectory.
An advisory based on the same outlook said drier-than-normal conditions are expected there over the next six months.
Rainfall is forecast to stay below normal for two straight months through November, bringing dry conditions.
A dry spell is expected from December to February, and drought or severe dryness is possible in March if the rainfall deficit persists.
Water levels in dams, rivers and reservoirs could fall, affecting household water supply and irrigation.
Lower yields and crop losses could hurt farm output and food supply, while heat and water shortages could stress livestock.
Officials also warned of more heat-related illnesses, higher electricity demand and a greater risk of grass and forest fires as vegetation dries out.
The Bohol provincial government is preparing measures to protect water supplies, help farmers adopt drought-resilient production methods, strengthen health response and monitor watersheds and forests.
Damalerio asked Boholanos to conserve water and electricity and to follow official weather advisories.
The Cebu advisory also urged residents to store clean water in case of supply interruptions, keep homes cool and well ventilated, stay hydrated, limit exposure to extreme heat during peak hours and adopt water-saving practices to protect plants and crops. It advised the public to follow updates from the weather bureau, local governments and water utilities such as the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.
El Niño does not mean a complete absence of rain, the advisory noted.
Localized thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, the intertropical convergence zone and other weather systems can still bring heavy rainfall during otherwise dry months.