DAGUPAN CITY – The city government of Dagupan formed its El Niño Task Force to mitigate the adverse effects of this phenomenon, particularly on agriculture and on people’s lives.
City Mayor Belen Fernandez signed Executive Order No. 10 on Wednesday, May 10 for the activation of the task force that will enhance inter-agency coordination in the formulation and implementation of measures to address the impacts of El Niño.
“Sa ngayon, ramdam na po nating lahat ang masamang epekto ng sobrang init, dahilan kung bakit maging ang ating national government ay inatasan na po ang lahat ng local government units upang agad makapagbigay ng solusyon o preparasyon. Ito rin po ang dahilan kung bakit agad po nating binuo ang El Niño Task Force,” she said.
The task force is compose of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, City Agriculture Office, Public Alert Response and Monitoring Center, City Veterinary Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Health Office, Market Division, Task Force Disiplina, and Public Order and Safety Office.
Included also are the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Department of Education, Dagupan City Water District, Dagupan Electric Corporation, associations of fisherfolks, water refilling stations, and irrigators as well as Rural Improvement Club, Produktong Dagupeño Marketing Cooperative, and Liga ng mga Barangay.
The task force will formulate a comprehensive disaster preparedness and rehabilitation plan to help the public cope with El Niño phenomenon and to minimize its disastrous effects; and will regularly monitor the implementation of the plan.
It will also conduct a massive information campaign to educate the public on the El Niño phenomenon and the needed interventions to reduce its expected adverse impact in the city; and enlist the assistance and support of any government agency on instrumentality as well as civil society in pursuance of its functions and objectives.
Further, the task force should identify possible funding sources to implement its activities in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management; and undertake such other functions as may be necessary to fulfill its objectives.
Citing reports from PAGASA, the city government of Dagupan said that El Niño will likely develop in July and may persist until next year.
The mayor said this poses a serious threat to the city’s overall social and economic activities.
Fernandez cited the possible adverse impacts which include the disruption of food production and essential services, damage to property, environment, loss of livelihood opportunities particularly in agribusiness, and health.
She encouraged every Dagupeño to take the necessary steps to prepare.
She added, “Malaki po ang inyong parte sa solusyong ito, kaya’t magtulungan po tayo.” BY: APRIL M. MONTES-BRAVO
