Bacolod City to Formulate El Niño Contingency Plan

The city government of Bacolod, through a task force, will formulate a contingency plan that will address concerns related to the extreme heat associated with the El Niño phenomenon.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an executive order constituting the Task Force El Niño, with him leading the body as chairperson.

In a copy of the order furnished to reporters on Monday, Leonardia said there is a need to constitute a task force to enhance inter-agency coordination in the formulation and implementation of measures to mitigate the effects of El Niño from March to August.

“A coordinated effort must be undertaken to prepare for the El Niño to minimize its adverse effects on our people,” the mayor said.

Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas, cluster head for City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said the body will submit the plans and recommendations to the mayor next week.

The CDRRMO serves as the secretariat support.

Members of the Task Force El Niño include Goldwyn Nifras of the City Agriculture Office, Maximino Sillo of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Dondon Parandas of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Dr. Carmela Gensoli of the City Health Office, Jose Taniongon of Central Negros Electric Cooperative, and Juliana Carbon of Bacolod City Water District.

The contingency plan will include measures to address shortage in water supply, reduce damage to agricultural crops, and prevent the occurrence of diseases related to unusual heat.

Leonardia directed the body to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the plan and to regularly monitor its implementation.

They were also tasked to conduct a massive information campaign to educate the public on the El Niño and the needed interventions to reduce its expected adverse impact.

The El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which is a periodic fluctuation in sea surface temperature and air pressure of the overlying atmosphere across the Pacific Ocean, has been recently reported in the climate outlook of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to occur in the Philippines between March and August. (PNA)