The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) would convene the National El Niño Team on July 19 to ensure the harmonized implementation of efforts to address the adverse impacts of the weather phenomenon. ‘We are looking forward to the finalization of the National Action Plan for El Niño by this team as we continue to undertake various activities specific to our agency mandates to ensure that the effects of El Niño-induced dry spells and drought to the country can be countered,’ OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement late Thursday. Representatives of government agencies tasked to help mitigate the impact of El Niño will attend the meeting at OCD headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced on July 4 the onset of El Niño in the country, which is expected to last until the first quarter of 2024. The weather bureau also said the phenomenon is likely to strengthen towards a “moderate to severe” degree by the latter part of this year. Nepomuceno, who will be presiding over the meeting, said the priority among the discussion points is the presentation of the short-, medium- and long-term plans of various team clusters to address the effects of El Niño on food security, water security, energy security, health, public safety and cross-cutting issues. PAGASA would also provide an updated forecast of the climate phenomenon as well as the status of the various dams in the country. The National El Niño Team regularly meets for updates on the actions taken by agencies following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s instructions for a science-based, whole-of-nation strategy to prepare the country for the adverse effects of the climate phenomenon.
Source: Philippines News Agency
