LAOAG CITY – The provincial government of Ilocos Norte has allocated around PHP60 million to mitigate the effects of a strong El Niño phenomenon, with a task force being organized to strengthen coordination among concerned authorities in addressing potential water shortages.
Gov. Cecilia Araneta-Marcos said this at a press conference on Monday where she underscored the need to enhance the province’s preparedness for prolonged dry spells and ensure that communities, particularly farmers and other vulnerable sectors, have access to adequate water supplies.
“We don’t know yet the gravity so we need to prepare and make sure basic needs are met,” she said.
The proposed task force will bring together concerned government offices and agencies to coordinate interventions, monitor water availability and develop appropriate measures to minimize the impact of the weather phenomenon.
Marcell Tabije, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, reported during a Management Committee meeting at the Governor’s Office on Monday that construction and installation of water catchment systems are underway.
These will be set up across all stations of the Bureau of Fire Protection in the 21 towns and two cities of Ilocos Norte, including 37 schools with gutter and the district hospitals that are facing water shortages.
Aside from the installation of water catchment systems, the Provincial Engineering Office, in coordination with the Ilocos Norte Water District, has been working on deep well drilling of about 120 meters to ensure reliable water supply, especially in public hospitals.
According to Araneta-Marcos, the Provincial Agriculture Office has been tasked to ensure the provision of about PHP1 million fuel subsidy to farmers as well as early-maturing seeds and seedlings, and drought-resistant crops like monggo, corn, and other lowland vegetables.
Small water impounding projects are also being repaired while additional small farm reservoirs across the province are being constructed for irrigation, she added. (PNA)
SOLAR ENERGY. A solar-powered fertigation system taken on Oct. 8, 2026 in Barangay Tabug, Batac City, Ilocos Norte is designed to deliver water and fertilizer inputs to a rice field. The Ilocos Norte government on Monday (Oct. 12, 2026) called for water conservation measures and make use of available resources to cushion impact of prolonged drought. (Photo by Leilanie Adriano)
