By Arabella Asis
The Philippine government is preparing for the “worst case scenario” during the onset of the El Niño phenomenon.
At the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday, April 27, Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Joint Information Center Head Diego Agustin Mariano said the early effects of El Niño are gradually being felt in the country.
“Unti-unti na nga pong nararamdaman itong epekto po ng El Niño. Isa na nga po dito ‘yung unti-unting pagtaas po ng temperature o ng heat index po,” he stated.
“Worst case scenario po dito is kumbaga ‘yung lubhang pagkawala po ng tubig dahil kumbaga ang ating rainfall amount is way below the average,” Mariano added.
Moreover, Mariano said diversification of crops may be implemented to ensure food supply amid the dry season.
“Magkakaroon po tayo ng diversification ng ating crops, kumbaga po ‘yung aangkop sa tuwing tag tuyo,” he stressed.
The state weather bureau’s latest forecast revealed that the El Niño will greatly affect areas from northern to southern Luzon in the following months.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier tasked various government agencies to form an El Niño Task Force to mitigate the effects of the dry season in the country.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will be joined by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, OCD, National Economic Development Authority, National Irrigation Authority, and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.
In addition, a support team from the Presidential Communications Office, Department of Trade and Industry, National Water Resources Board, and Armed Forces of the Philippines will also be part of the task force. – cf