“Water rationing needed. Scheduling to be done”: La Trinidad prepares as El Niño threatens supply

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The local government of La Trinidad is preparing for possible water rationing as a projected intensification of El Niño threatens water supply and could affect irrigation and crop production in the municipality.

La Trinidad Mayor Roderick Awingan said the municipal government had formed an El Niño Mitigation Council and was preparing possible water rationing measures if dry conditions worsen, according to a report published by a regional news outlet on October 8.

“Ibig sabihin ang mangyayari nito, pag ganun ang nangyari. Pag talagang tumindi pa ang El Niño natin ay yung water rationing. Ibig sabihin mag schedule na tayo sa mga areas natin para lahat ay mabigyan ng kaukulang oras para sila ay mag-igib ng mga kanilang tubig… Gumawa na rin kami ng El Niño Mitigation Council, nakapag-meeting na rin kami and right now, meron na po tayong nagawang kaukulang aksyon and that had already been submitted to the Sangguniang Bayan,” Awingan said.

The proposed measures are intended to ensure that available water is distributed among communities if supplies become insufficient.

The preparations come amid the expected strengthening of El Niño conditions. The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), in its September 23 advisory, reported that a Strong El Niño was active and could intensify into a Very Strong El Niño between September and December 2026, with conditions expected to persist through the first half of 2027.

Farmers fear crop losses

The possible water shortage is also raising concern among farmers in La Trinidad, particularly those dependent on irrigation for crop production.

Farmer Rudy Valdez said insufficient water could stunt plant growth and reduce crop yields, potentially resulting in another poor harvest.

“Kung walang pagdidilig eh di parang stunted na yung pananim. Halimbawa kung sa bunga kokonti na ganun, kinakabahan kaming mga farmers kung ano ang epekto. Wala, kung ganun baka susunod na naman na taon magtatanim,” Valdez said.

The local government’s preparations highlight the potential need for stricter water management if El Niño intensifies, while farmers are urging attention to the water requirements of agricultural production.

For La Trinidad, the challenge is to manage limited water supplies while ensuring that households and farms continue to receive adequate water as dry conditions persist.