MANILA, March 21 — The Aquino government is taking the necessary steps to prepare for the effects of weather phenomenon El Niño in the country, a Malacañang official assured on Saturday. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Department of Agriculture was on top of the preparations.
“Pagdating po sa preparations, at least for the El Niño, siyempre, una po ang DA natin diyan — ang Department of Agriculture,” Valte said.
“Kasi ang importante po sa atin ay masigurado ang patuloy na pag-supply ng tubig, irigasyon doon sa ating mga crops, lalo na sa mga area na tinatamaan po nito, at alam ko namang nakikipag-usap na rin po ang mga regional na NIA (National Irrigation Administration) natin para naman matulungan ang mga kababayan natin doon,” she said.
In an earlier statement, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala said although El Niño was here, “we are prepared, it will not turn out to be the sum of all of our fears.” Alcala has already directed all DA regional offices, concerned bureaus and attached agencies nationwide to prepare for the impact of the weather phenomenon. The Agriculture secretary has also called on farmers and the public to conserve water as a precautionary measure in case the country experiences a prolonged dry spell.
As additional preparation fot the El Nino even while still mild, the central office of the Department of Agriculture has partnered with the Department of Tourism and tasked designated liaison officers to coordinate with their counterparts in the regions in contacting organizers of various provincial festivals that has street dancers. Each region will form a team for simultaneous compacted regional training as soon as possible.
Professional dance instructors from Metro Manila and key cities in the provinces will work together with volunteers from ABS-CBN and GMA talent centers for the rigorous training.
The main objective of the emergency program is to train a reliable team of street dancers per region that will be on call upon notice to perform a synchronized rain dance. This will assure an augmented supply of water as rain dance has been tested by local farmers to produce enough rain to irrigate their parched farms in the past.
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Telling farmers to conserve water is not equal preparation to being prepared for the impact of EL Nino. There should be a “concrete” plan.