CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) is strengthening hospitals’
readiness for El Niño by ensuring adequate water supplies, electricity, medical supplies, and
contingency measures to keep health facilities operational and protect vulnerable populations
from heat-related illnesses during prolonged dry conditions.

The preparations align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive during an Oct. 13
meeting with El Niño Task Force member agencies to ensure adequate supplies of food, water,
and energy and support critical sectors, including health, agriculture, and energy. El Niño is
forecast to persist until early next year.
During the 2026 Regional Health Excellence Awards in Cagayan de Oro City on Oct. 14, Health
Secretary Dr. Edwin M. Mercado said DOH Department Memorandum No. 2026-0420 directs all
DOH-operated hospitals and local government units (LGUs) to assess their facilities’ readiness
and ensure continuity of operations.
“May checklist po ang ating El Niño Task Force, ‘yung health facility preparedness. Ito po ay
ibinigay na sa mga DOH hospitals, and I hope ‘yung mga Centers for Health Development
(CHDs) dito ibigay na rin natin sa mga local government units, para ma-assess nila ‘yung
conditions and preparedness ng kanilang mga ospital,” Mercado said.
The preparedness checklist covers water availability for sanitation and other essential needs,
ventilation systems, medical supplies, contingency plans, and stocks of essential medicines.
Hospitals must also ensure capability to treat heat-related illnesses.
Mercado said LGUs are also being urged to conduct targeted visits to check on older people,
children, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying medical conditions, who may face
greater health risks during prolonged periods of extreme heat.
“At the level of the local government, we are also proposing that there will be targeted visits to
the vulnerable population. We need to check on the vulnerable, ‘yung mga may edad, ‘yung mga
bata, ‘yung merong comorbidities, at saka po ‘yung mga buntis,” Mercado said.
To help prevent disruptions to critical medical services during power and water shortages,
Mercado said President Marcos and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) had assured hospitals that
health facilities would receive priority access to electricity and water.

“Ang pahayag naman ng ating Presidente at ang binigay pong assurance ng OCD, [ay] priority
pong bigyan ng access sa tubig at kuryente ang mga hospital, kasi this is life-threatening kung
hindi po tayo mabigyan at hindi continuous ‘yung operations ng ating hospital,” Mercado said.
Despite the planned prioritization of hospitals, Mercado urged health facilities and local health
centers to conserve energy to help ease pressure on the national electricity supply during peak
demand periods.
The DOH called on health workers, LGUs, and partner agencies to sustain preparedness
measures to protect vulnerable residents and maintain access to essential health services
throughout the dry spell. (GDA/PIA-10)