Government taps int'l groups to address El Niño impact

The government has sought the assistance of private and international groups to tackle strategies in dealing with El Nino. 

The El Nino team led a meeting Tuesday with representatives from the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), Arise Philippines, United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) and UN-Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO).

They discussed the national action plan, the country's roadmap in addressing the weather phenomenon, which was finalized in July.

“We are done harmonizing the plans, programs, and activities of the various government agencies relative to El Nino. We have already published the national action plan that outlines the short, medium and long term interventions that we tackled in our previous meetings,” said National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director Ariel Nepomuceno.

“We are in the implementation phase because the situation calls for the immediate execution of the needed interventions," he added.

He said linking with private groups  will make the plan "more comprehensive and encompassing."

"We are in discussion with private, local and international organizations. We need effective plans to guide all actions, plans that are inclusive and considerate of the different circumstances of communities affected by El Nino.” he added.

Agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy, Department of Health, and Department of the Interior and Local Government were present to discuss plans for industries relevant to their department.

During the conference, the PDRF explained key interventions in priority areas as declared by the government such as the implementation of the national energy contingency plan to ensure energy security.

UN-OCHA and UN-FAO highlighted the UN humanitarian country team with assistance in projects such as farm equipment distribution to support agricultural folk.

Local weather bureau PAGASA reported that a moderate El Niño is already present and strengthening along the tropical Pacific.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News