Tunis:Western Visayas The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Western Visayas (RDRRMC-6) will place its Emergency Operations Center under Blue Alert starting October 11 in preparation for the potential impacts of a "super" El Niño.

According to Philippines News agency, the decision to raise the alert level was made during a pre-disaster risk assessment and El Niño scenario-building session held on Friday. Melissa Banias, operations section chief of the Office of Civil Defense - Western Visayas, stated that the alert is intended to mobilize resources, convene emergency meetings, and ensure that government programs and activities effectively address the effects of El Niño.

Selected response clusters for logistics, food and nonfood items, health, law and order, and crisis communication have been activated as part of the preparedness measures. Raul Fernandez, OCD-6 Regional Director, emphasized that the Blue Alert is a proactive step to enhance monitoring, reporting, and interagency coordination.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported during the meeting that a strong El Niño is currently affecting the tropical Pacific, expected to persist through the first half of 2027 and potentially intensify by the end of 2026. Western Visayas is anticipated to experience below-normal rainfall in October and November, with a forecast of way-below-normal rainfall from December through March.

The pre-disaster risk assessment evaluated the region's climate outlook, water supply conditions, and preparedness for potential impacts on food security, water resources, energy, health, and public safety. Agencies involved in the El Niño sector have been instructed to submit their preparedness and response plans to their respective sector leads, with the aim of consolidating efforts to mitigate the effects of the phenomenon.