- PAGASA says a very strong El Niño is now underway and should last into 2027
- DepEd's heat index rules decide when classes move home
- A year after Typhoon Tino, Capitol puts the rebuilding bill at P11.1 billion
- Voter registration reopens on 10 November and runs to 30 July 2027
PAGASA says a very strong El Niño is now underway and should last into 2027
PAGASA updated its El Niño status on Wednesday, 4 November: a very strong El Niño is now present in the tropical Pacific. It expects the event to peak before the end of 2026 and to last until the first half of 2027. Its climate monitoring chief told a House committee the same day that dry spells will grow longer and turn into drought in more provinces month by month into early 2027. Tropical cyclones and heavy rain can still happen, but the overall outlook is for much drier and warmer than normal months ahead.
Expect less rain in Carcar through the coming months, not a quick end to the dry weather. Store water now in clean, covered containers, fix leaking taps and hoses, and if you farm, talk to the city agriculture office about planting schedules and water before the next cropping. Watch for heat stress in children, older relatives and outdoor workers.
Sources: PAGASA, Politiko, The Freeman
DepEd's heat index rules decide when classes move home
With Cebu's heat index forecast at 38°C to 39°C this week, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said on 4 November he wants to meet schools about whether suspension should be the first response to heat. The rules are in DepEd Memorandum 64, series of 2026. Below 27°C, classes run as usual. From 27°C to 32°C, school heads may shorten hours or go hybrid. From 33°C to 41°C, face-to-face classes stop and learners work at home. At 42°C and up, all school work stops. School heads decide from classroom readings and must notify the local government.
This DepEd memo covers public schools everywhere, including Carcar, so on hot days your child's school may switch to home-based work on its own, without a city-wide announcement. Follow your school's page or group chat for same-day notices, and plan who will be home with younger children.
Sources: SunStar, The Freeman, GMA News
A year after Typhoon Tino, Capitol puts the rebuilding bill at P11.1 billion
Marking a year since Typhoon Tino, the Cebu provincial government says about P11.1 billion is still needed to fully repair what the storm damaged: roads, bridges, slope protection, barangay health centers and schools. Provincial officials told reporters the province is focusing first on roads, where it has direct control, and on schools, since many also serve as evacuation centers. They also said finding safe land to resettle families still displaced is the hardest part, because flood plains and river easements are off limits.
Much of the rebuilding money depends on national agencies, so expect repairs to come in stages over several years. If a damaged road, bridge or school near you is still unrepaired, report it to your barangay so it gets onto the city and provincial lists.
Sources: The Freeman, Rappler
Voter registration reopens on 10 November and runs to 30 July 2027
Comelec will reopen voter registration nationwide on Tuesday, 10 November, for the 2028 national and local elections. Until 30 July 2027 you can register, reactivate a deactivated record, transfer your registration or update your details. Comelec says it will also hold registration at malls, terminals and universities under its Register Anywhere program. Only Naga City in Camarines Sur and six towns in Batanes will start later because of a plebiscite and a special election there.
If you turned 18, moved to Carcar, or missed voting in the last two elections, go to your local Comelec office or a Register Anywhere site. The window is long, but lines are usually shortest in the first months.
Sources: Inquirer, Daily Tribune
