With forecasts indicating a high probability of El Niño developing in the coming months, West Visayas State University (WVSU) has begun crafting a university-wide adaptation plan to help protect students, personnel, campus operations, and critical resources from the anticipated effects of prolonged dry conditions.

The University conducted its El Niño Readiness and Adaptation Forum and Planning on July 7 at the Research and Extension Building Conference Room, bringing together disaster risk reduction and management officers and planning officers from the Main Campus, satellite campuses, and the WVSU Medical Center.

Spearheaded by the Environmental Resource Management Office (ERMO) under the leadership of Director Dr. Maria Lea Escantilla-Lebuna, the activity aimed to prepare a coordinated, risk-informed response to the anticipated impacts of El Niño across the University.

To help guide institutional planning, participants first received updates from Jan Hermo Baron, weather specialist of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Visayas Regional Services, who presented the latest climate outlook for July to December 2026. Raul E. Fernandez, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region VI, together with Janice Ragus, chief of the OCD Rehabilitation and Recovery Section, also discussed strategies for preparing WVSU through a risk-informed, whole-of-university approach.

Following the forum, representatives from each campus and unit identified vulnerabilities specific to their respective areas and developed initial adaptation strategies. The workshop focused on four key risk sectors: water security, health and well-being, food security, and institutional operations.

Among the concerns discussed were water supply and storage, hospital and laboratory water requirements, heat stress among students and personnel, campus food resources, power and generator readiness, infrastructure maintenance, and possible adjustments to academic and work schedules.

Each campus and unit developed proposed action plans identifying priority interventions, implementation timelines, and responsible offices. These recommendations will be consolidated and refined into a comprehensive University El Niño adaptation plan for implementation.

The forum forms part of WVSU’s continuing commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and institutional resilience through proactive planning, scientific information, and collaborative action across the University community.