Is PH prepared for El Niño and its impacts?
NANCY WANTS PUBLIC TO BE GUIDED ON ACTION PLANS OF GOVT AGENCIES

Government agencies should start informing the public about their plans and programs to mitigate the possible impacts of El Niño, Senator Nancy Binay said.

"Dapat pong malaman na ng publiko ang plano at programa ng iba't-ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan kung paano nito mababawasan ang epekto ng El Niño sa ating bansa," Binay said.

"Are we prepared for the worse impacts of the condition?" the re-electionist senator added.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday that the weather condition is now affecting the country. El Niño is characterized by reduced amounts of rainfall.

The state weather agency added that dry spell and drought had been observed in several provinces in Luzon and Mindanao from September 2018 to January 2019. These conditions were said to usher in El Niño.

"Nakakabahala po itong pagdating ng El Niño, lalo na sa ating mga magsasaka ng palay. Normally po ngayong Pebrero ay kakasimula pa lang nilang magtanim, pero kung walang mapapagkunan ng tubig pang-irigasyon ay laking pinsala sa kanila," Binay said.

"Alam din po nating may epekto ang El Niño, hindi lang sa pagsasaka, kundi pati na rin to those raising food animals such as chickens and pigs, so apektado ang ating food security," she added.

The legislator said that some pests could also happen with the weather condition, aside from occurrence of different diseases.

"May mga sakit din pong lumalabas kapag mainit ang panahon, so dapat pong malaman kung paano ito maiiwasan o malulunasan sakaling magkaroon," Binay said.

She added that special attention should be also given to the most vulnerable sectors such as the young, the old, and those with chronic conditions such as hypertension.

"Sila po yung mas vulnerable at mas nangangailangan ng espesyal na pagtingin at pagkalingang medical kung sakali," Binay said.

"Mahalagang malaman ng taong bayan ang mga posibleng epekto ng El Niño sa kanilang kabuhayan at kalusugan upang makapaghanda at mabilis na makatugon," she added.