Pampanga Province Prepares for El Niño Drought — Review of…

Pampanga Province Prepares for El Niño Drought — Review of a 50-Hectare Storage Basin Upstream of Cong Dadong Dam in Arayat

📌 On October 6 (Tuesday), Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, speaking at a disaster forum for barangay officials in the 4th district, said that storage facilities are needed across the province to hold water in preparation for a prolonged drought caused by El Niño. The provincial government is reviewing a plan to develop about 50 hectares upstream of the Cong Dadong Dam (Cong Dadong Dam) in Arayat as a storage basin.

■ What's Changing
· Governor Pineda said, "There is a 50-hectare site upstream of Cong Dadong Dam that can be developed into a storage basin." The dam spans the barangays of Lacquios, San Juan Bano, and San Agustin Norte in Arayat, and according to The Manila Times, it irrigates about 10,000 hectares of farmland in Pampanga.
· The governor warned that most farmers rely on groundwater for farming, and that excessive groundwater use could cause the ground to subside. She also said, "Enormous amounts of water came in during the rains in August and September, but we weren't able to hold it."
· The provincial government is also moving to form an El Niño Task Force (TF). Whether it has officially launched has not yet been reported.

■ Outlook
· Lorenzo A. Moron, Chief of the Weather Services Section for Metro Manila at PAGASA (the national weather agency), said El Niño could continue until June 2027 and may reach the "very strong" stage within this year.
· Attendees at the forum included PAGASA, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-EMB), the Department of Education, and the Department of Health.

■ Tips for Residents and Travelers
· Since dry spells may last longer, keep water tanks and containers at home and check local water interruption notices.
· As the heat may continue, drink water frequently and limit outdoor activities during midday.

■ Sources
SunStar (10/7), The Manila Times (10/7) — The October 6 forum, the El Niño TF plan, and the PAGASA outlook are confirmed by SunStar (1 source).

■ Photos
· 1. Presentation stage at the forum for Pampanga barangays — SunStar
· 2. File photo · Pampanga Governor's office — The Manila Times